One of the greatest minds of our time - Professor Stephen Hawkins - warns that mankind faces extinction if we stay isolated on Earth.

"The human race shouldn't have all its eggs in one basket, or on one planet. Our only chance of long-term survival is not to remain inward looking on planet Earth, but to spread out into space. We are entering an increasingly dangerous period of our history. Our population and our use of the finite resources of planet Earth are growing exponentially, along with our technical ability to change the environment for good or ill. If we want to survive beyond the next century, our future is in space,"

His comments came after he warned in a recent television series that mankind should avoid contact with aliens at all costs, as the consequences could be devastating.

Source: AP through the daily press. Eg  RedOrbit