Stephen Hawking on aliens: We should keep quiet so ET doesn’t KILL US

Following a 55-year battle with Motor Neurone Disease, Professor Hawking died in the early hours of March 13, 2018.

However, his legacy will live on through the valuable knowledge of the universe that he has imparted on the world, and also warnings humanity must heed going forward.

Prof Hawking was an avid believer that there was life elsewhere in the universe, and even set up the Breakthrough Listen initiative – an organisation which listens out for signals in deep space.

But the late particle physicist did warn agains humans contacting aliens.

Professor Hawking said humankind must keep quiet on discoveries judging by what has happened when humans have met other humans who they deem inferior.

The theoretical physicist said: “One day we might receive a signal from a planet like Gliese 832c, but we should be wary of answering back.

“Meeting an advanced civilisation could be like Native Americans encountering Columbus.

“That didn’t turn out so well.”

The Brief History of Time author also said in an online film titled ‘Stephen Hawking’s Favourite Places’ that we would potentially be vastly inferior to an alien race which has the technology to reach Earth.

In the film he said: “If so, they will be vastly more powerful and may not see us as any more valuable than we see bacteria.”

Prof Hawking died at the age 76, according to a spokesman for his family.

In a statement Professor Hawking’s children, Lucy, Robert and Tim said: “We are deeply saddened that our beloved father passed away today.

“He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years.

“His courage and persistence with his brilliance and humour inspired people across the world.

“He once said, ‘It would not be much of a universe if it wasn’t home to the people you love.’ We will miss him forever.”

Professor Hawking suffered from a rare early-onset slow-progressing form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neurone disease or Lou Gehrig’s disease.

He was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 1963 at the age of 21.

Doctors expected him to live for no more than two years, but he had a form of the disease which progressed more slowly than usual.