Tariq Malik
Senior Editor
SPACE.com
Mon Apr 21, 8:31 PM ET

Alien life may well exist in a primitive form somewhere in our corner of the galaxy, famed astrophysicist Stephen Hawking said Monday.

Given the size of the universe, it is unlikely that Earth is the only planet to develop some sort of life, Hawking told an audience at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He added that humanity must embrace space exploration, if only to ensure its long-term survival.


"While there may be primitive life in our region of the galaxy, there don't seem to be any advanced intelligent beings," said Hawking during a lecture as part of a series commemorating NASA's 50th anniversary this year.


The lack of success by the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) project to discover signals from an alien civilization suggests that none exist within several 100 light-years of Earth, Hawking said, though he offered three theories on the dearth of interplanetary communications.


The probability of primitive life developing on a suitable planet may be extremely low, or it may be high, but aliens intelligent enough to beam signals into space may also be smart enough to build civilization-destroying weapons like nuclear bombs, he said. More likely, he added, is that primitive life is likely to develop, but intelligent life as we know it is exceedingly rare.


"We don't appear to have been visited by aliens," Hawking said, adding that he discounts reports of UFOs. "Why would they only appear to cranks and weirdoes?"


Alien life aside, Hawking said humanity must pursue a long-term effort of space exploration that would span hundreds of years in order to ensure the survival of the species. He likened those opposed to spending money on space science and exploration to those who wrote off Christopher Columbus' trans-Atlantic Ocean voyage in 1492 as a waste of money.


"The discovery of the New World made a profound difference on the old. Just think, we wouldn't have had a Big Mac or KFC," Hawking said.


"Spreading out into space will have an even greater effect," he added. "It will completely change the future of the human race, and maybe determine whether we have any future at all."


Hawking, 66, is a renowned theoretical physicist and cosmologist who suffers from the neurological disorder amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He uses a wheelchair, communicates with the aid of a computer, and co-wrote a children's book about science - "George's Secret Key to the Universe" - with his daughter Lucy in the hope of inspiring youth to pursue studies in science and technology.


"We live in a society that is increasingly governed by science and technology," Hawking said. "Yet fewer and fewer people want to go into science."


Sending astronauts back to the moon, establishing a lunar base with a clear target of going on to Mars would do much to restore the public's support for spaceflight, he added.


"If the human race is to continue for another million years we will have to boldly go where no one has gone before," Hawking said.

I couldn't agree more

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History shows again and again how nature points up the folly of man

I very much agree with Mr. Hawking. I'm saddened that the exploration of space has to sit and wait for the more Earth bound problems to be dealt with.
I will be very disappointed if I do not see a manned mission to Mars in my lifetime.
Sometimes I think we will need a large scale war to thin the population and force the survivors to work more closely together in order to survive.
A visit from the Vulcans wouldn't hurt either.

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"Too Soon from the Cave, Too Far from the Stars"

Much as I would like the idea of launching off into space and exploring, I think it is probably better that mankind has to learn to manage its available resources properly and tidy up after playing, otherwise we'll strip-mine every world we find and leave it toxic.

I like to think that things are changing for the better now, with greater general awareness of things to do with keeping the planet better, but if anything the process has barely begun.

The way that the powers that be on Earth are at the moment, I think letting mankind loose on another world (assuming uninhabited of course) would be like giving a comic-book super villain infinite resources to play with and hoping everything will turn out for the best

@ Timelord's comment about war
Another way of saying revolution is a good way of resolving problems. If you haven't seen Dr Zhivago, I suggest you do. Another choice in this department IMO would be the Dune trilogy. Revolution just brings a new string of bullies into power, and every empire carries the seeds of its own destruction.

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My PC spec

Valid points. I admit. The human race is more likely to take, use, and throw away, most anything it comes across. Sad, but possibly true.

Though,...There is something to be said for all the parks and wild areas that governments have been putting aside and protecting. It may be that another world may indeed be protected in much the same way. One would hope anyway.

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"Too Soon from the Cave, Too Far from the Stars"

Two problems there - the politicians who don't really care about the environment would use the argument of "we'll take care of the next world better" as an excuse for not caring for the previous one, and as things are, money dictates where mankind goes next. It is very likely to be the heads of faceless corporations who decide how the money is used. In such a case, protection of the environment will always take a back seat to profit.

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My PC spec

Sadly, mikeymike, you're probably right. The "suits" are likely to decide when and how we (as a society) move into space.

BTW, wasn't Sun Microsystems a major sponsor of the Robinson expedition (in the 1998 remake of Lost in Space)? Perhaps a little too close to art imitating life?

Hmm..Maybe.. But there is still the people who are the ones who have been the driving force to get the politicians that are setting aside these federally protected lands.
I think the general populace would even be more vocal over a whole new world.

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"Too Soon from the Cave, Too Far from the Stars"