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Space scientist says there are 'almost definitely' aliens out there

Space scientist says there are 'almost definitely' aliens out there

Maggie Aderin-Pocock has given a behind-the-scenes look at what really goes on in space and also spoken about the chances of alien life.

If you're still not sold on the existence of aliens, let one of the pros convince you.

Maggie Aderin-Pocock is a space scientist and professional star-gazer, and she says there is "almost definitely" extra-terrestrial life out there.

Aderin-Pocock also spoke about the mind-blowing vastness of the universe, space ketchup and aliens, saying: "It's funny because I get asked that, you know. Are the aliens out there? I would say yes. Almost definitely because...

Maggie Aderin-Pocock is a space scientist and host of BBC Four's The Sky at Night.
S:E Creative Studio

"We live in a galaxy called the Milky Way. And the Milky Way, if you asked me 10 years ago, I would say the Milky Way contains 200 billion galaxies," she said on the Dish from Waitrose podcast.

"But then we sent a space probe up called Gaia, and it was doing a survey of the stars, a billion stars in our galaxy, and we realized we were 50% out. There's actually 300 billion stars in our galaxy."

As scientists, she said, "The more we look, the more we see."

Aderin-Pocock added: "300 billion stars in our galaxy, let's say just an average two planets going around each one of those stars in the whole of the universe, 200 billion galaxies - I think would be conceited to think we're the only ones."

Author and scientist Aderin-Pocock - who presents BBC Four show The Sky at Night - lifted the lid on some other space secrets.

When asked by co-host Nick Grimshaw if anyone had a boozy drink in space, she said "it's generally frowned upon", although she's "pretty convinced people have. But I think it's pretty unofficial."

We can understand why that's kept under wraps - an astronaut flying a massive spaceship under the influence sounds like a recipe for disaster - and it's not like there are any breathalyzer checkpoints between here and the moon...

Aderin-Pocock is a professional star-gazer.
Ninoon/Getty Images

Aderin-Pocock also spoke about the possibilities of growing food on other planet, mentioning a 2021 experiment that created "space ketchup".

In it, Heinz filled a warehouse with the equivalent of the material the covers Mars - the Martian regolith.

"So Mars is a red planet - it's quite rusty, it's got iron oxide in it. So they got all this, put it in a warehouse, added other elements... And they were able to grow tomatoes," Aderin-Pocock said.

"They actually made space ketchup. I've so wanted to get a bottle."

It doesn't sound hugely appetising when you think of the harsh conditions of Mars, but the space scientist said: "They say the ketchup tastes just as good as Earth ketchup."

Featured Image Credit: S:E Creative Studio/ktsimage/Getty Images