We used to fear they would devastate our planet like the tripods from War Of The Worlds.
But now we’re more likely to consider them as friendly folk like ET, scientists say.
In 1961, the US congress warned that finding evidence of extra-terrestrial life could lead to panic.
But now we’ve become so used to alien abductions and X Files-style plots that the real thing would spark delight or indifference, a psychologist argues. Us Earthlings have been getting used to the idea of ET since the Seti – the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence – project began listening for alien radio signals 50 years ago, says Dr Albert Harrison.
Now half of the US and Europe believe aliens exist and many are convinced they have already visited Earth, surveys suggest.
As far as them likely being "friendly folk," Stephen Hawking would say otherwise. To read the rest of the article, click here.