Despite what UFO enthusiasts might claim, virtually every scientist agrees that humanity is yet to receive a message let alone a visitor from beyond our planet. But in the vast scale of the universe - containing an estimated 2 trillion galaxies - scientists say there is a '100 per cent chance' that there is life somewhere apart from Earth.
From the 'Dark Forest Hypothesis' to the inevitability of nuclear war, the answer to this question may offer a chilling glimpse into the future of our own civilization.
Given that the Universe is 13.8 billion years old, if only a handful of civilizations emerged they would have plenty of time to become extremely advanced. When Fermi's paradox was first presented, some scientists argued that the age of the Universe suggests there should be super-advanced civilizations in our galaxy.
Dr Walter says: 'It could be that everybody is in a dark forest, meaning we are scared of any advanced civilization because they're going to be extremely aggressive.'
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