Top scientist insists aliens will be found by 2075 and predicts exactly what they'll look like

A leading scientist has claimed aliens will be discovered in 2075 and has even predicted what they will look like.

A space boffin from the UK has said she is 'absolutely convinced' of extraterrestrial life in our universe, so much so that it will be discovered by us Earthlings in the next five decades.

Dame Maggie Aderin–Pocock, from University College London's Department of Physics and Astronomy, told the Daily Mail how she believes there will be a 'positive detection' of other-worldly life on another planet by 2075 that could be 'far superior' to ours.

"In the whole of the universe, there are approximately 200 billion galaxies," she told the outlet. "And so although certain conditions were in place for life to start here on Earth, and this is the only example we have of life, I'm absolutely convinced that there's life out there, because with so many stars, so many planets, why would it just occur here?"

Dame Anderin-Pocock made her prediction ahead of the Royal Institution Christmas lectures, some of Britain's most prestigious public science discussions, which focus on the big questions space still has to tackle.

She said we will come into contact with them in the next five decades (Getty)

The scientist said this 'numbers game', known as the Drake equation, which theorises a high probability of life must exist due to the sheer number of planets in the universe, is mainly why she believes we do not exist alone.

Take, for instance, in the Milky Way, where there are 300 billion stars, each of which 'has a sun like our sun'.

Already, we have 'tantalising glimpses' of possible life on these planets, referring to a recent discovery of an exoplanet some 124 light-years away from our home planet, where molecules in the atmosphere were found that can only exist if there is a form of life.

Still, the Dame said there's still a 'challenge' to collate concrete evidence that there is indeed life out there.

"But to put my money where my mouth is, in terms of getting a positive detection, I would say definitely in the next 50 years," she added.

She predicts they won't look anything like we imagine (Getty)

As to what it may look like, the pro said it was unlikely we'll come face-to-face with a green human-like being that has been imagined in movies, or like E.T. landing on Earth in a spaceship.

Instead, she said it'll probably look like 'grey sludge'.

"We might find something that does evolve, and that can communicate – and of course, their technology might be far superior to ours," she continued.

"I love the idea of aliens on the other side of the moon looking back at us, hoping we'll 'grow up' soon.

"If there is any form of life, we need to make sure it is totally isolated," she continued. 'It cannot come into contact with any sort of human presence.

"But we're building facilities to do just that so we can analyse them. Because it's hard to take all our scientific equipment to Mars, for example, but if we can bring samples from Mars to Earth and analyse them here on Earth, we can get a lot more understanding.

"Of course, the ultimate solution is to send me. Some people retire and potter around their garden, and my retirement plan is to potter around Mars."