US-Iran war CJP protest in Delhi US-Saudi nuclear deal Commonwealth Games 2026 Wildfires in Europe

We probably aren't alone in the universe: Indian physicist

There could be intelligent species that might be living somewhere in space, in planets that have conditions similar to the earth, J V Narlikar said.

FP Archives|Dec 08, 2013, 17:55:18 IST

Agra: Eminent physicist J V Narlikar has said there is a clear possibility of life existing elsewhere in space apart from the earth.

Speaking on "Are We Alone in the Universe?" at DEI Deemed University at Dayalbagh here last evening, Narlikar, Professor Emeritus of the Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics-Pune, said it was, however, debatable as to the kind of life that might exists.

[caption id="attachment_509606" align="alignleft" width="300"] Reuters[/caption]

There could be intelligent species that might be living somewhere in space, in planets that have conditions similar to the earth, he said.

He said though scientists associated with biological sciences had discounted the possibility of life in space, astronomers and astrophysicists were optimistic.

Prof Narlikar said bacteria collected from 41 km away from the earth in outer space showed that three of the bacteria were different from those on earth. These three bacteria were found to be unaffected by ultra violet rays, leading astronomers to conclude that there could be more such bacteria and cells elsewhere in space and consequently the basis of life.