Stephen Hawking: 'Don't talk to aliens'

Stephen Hawking has reportedly warned against attempting to contact aliens in case they try to colonise Earth.

The theoretical physicist claimed in a Discovery documentary that extraterrestrials could ravage our planet's resources should they know where to find us.

According to Metro, Professor Hawking said: "We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldn't want to meet. I imagine they might exist in massive ships, having used up all the resources from their home planet.

"Such advanced aliens would perhaps become nomads, looking to conquer and colonise whatever planets they can reach. If aliens visit us, the outcome would be much as when Columbus landed in America, which didn't turn out well for the Native Americans."

He added: "To my mathematical brain, the numbers alone make thinking about aliens perfectly rational. The real challenge is to work out what aliens might actually be like."

Into The Universe With Stephen Hawking airs tonight at 9pm on Discovery.