Close encounters of the Failsworth kind
MEN on Sunday|July 30, 2023
PROFESSOR Brian Cox has said he ‘wouldn’t be surprised if a UFO landed in Oldham tomorrow’ as he shared thoughts about life beyond Earth.
Close encounters of the Failsworth kind

The leading Manchester physicist took to Twitter to post the surprising revelation, saying firstly he thought the Milky Way ‘may be filled with microbes but not complex living things at our level of intelligence’ but that ‘all thoughts are guesses’.

But he quickly clarified, writing: “BUT make no mistake, I wouldn’t be in the least bit surprised if a UFO landed in Oldham town centre tomorrow morning and the captain said ‘Take me to the leader of Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council’.”

He added if that did happen, he would ask them why gravity is so weak relative to the other forces of nature.

The remark came as Prof Cox, who is a professor of particle physics in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Manchester, explained the ‘Fermi Paradox’ as the lack of firm evidence for alien intelligence.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM MEN ON SUNDAYView all
Pep admits: We could not handle Cherries
MEN on Sunday

Pep admits: We could not handle Cherries

PEP Guardiola said that City were not 'clean' enough to cope with Bournemouth as they suffered their first Premier League defeat for 11 months.

time-read
1 min  |
November 03, 2024
United chiefs told me it was now or never
MEN on Sunday

United chiefs told me it was now or never

New Reds coach says he asked to stay at Sporting Lisbon until the end of the season, but he was given Old Trafford ultimatum

time-read
3 mins  |
November 03, 2024
Curzon boss Craig wants more magic moments in cup
MEN on Sunday

Curzon boss Craig wants more magic moments in cup

EVEN guiding his team to a shock victory over Mansfield would be unlikely to usurp Craig Mahon's favourite FA Cup memory.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 03, 2024
Any encounter with wild nature is memorable in some way
MEN on Sunday

Any encounter with wild nature is memorable in some way

COMEDIAN AND FORMER STRICTLY WINNER BILL BAILEY TALKS TO PRUDENCE WADE ABOUT THE ANIMALS THAT HAVE SHAPED HIS LIFE

time-read
4 mins  |
November 03, 2024
Drink-drive firefighter 'haunted by tragedies
MEN on Sunday

Drink-drive firefighter 'haunted by tragedies

Single mum who was almost three times limit is handed fine

time-read
2 mins  |
November 03, 2024
Doubt over promised cash for North transport plans
MEN on Sunday

Doubt over promised cash for North transport plans

TWO major transport projects in the North of England have been thrown into doubt after Rachel Reeves failed to commit to funding pledges made by the previous Conservative government.

time-read
1 min  |
November 03, 2024
Law change could end out-of-area taxis issue
MEN on Sunday

Law change could end out-of-area taxis issue

TAXIS licensed by Wolverhampton council could be BANNED from working in Greater Manchester with a proposed law change.

time-read
1 min  |
November 03, 2024
How a quiet night in lab changed science
MEN on Sunday

How a quiet night in lab changed science

Miracle material created in city is 200 times stronger than steel

time-read
4 mins  |
November 03, 2024
'As long as Barry can see pals at the pub, he'll be OK ra
MEN on Sunday

'As long as Barry can see pals at the pub, he'll be OK ra

Dad's devastating MND diagnosis

time-read
2 mins  |
November 03, 2024
The chilly reception to exit of Iceland
MEN on Sunday

The chilly reception to exit of Iceland

How the closure of suburb's last cheap shop' symbolises a change that some residents would prefer hadn't happened

time-read
4 mins  |
November 03, 2024