BELIEVERS are gearing up for National Alien Day on April 26 – and all the indications are suggest the majority of Earthlings really believe we are not alone in the universe
The event was originally conceived as a tribute to the Alien sci-fi franchise, starring Sigourney Weaver – but these days it is often an excuse to celebrate all things extra-terrestrial.
And with the successful launch of NASA’s TESS Planet Hunter satellite, which will actively look for planets which could be capable of sustaining life, all eyes are on the stars it seems.
The idea of proclaiming April 26 as Alien Day was inspired by the name of the moon on which the first movie is partly set - LV426.
The event is typically marked by exclusive announcements about the acclaimed franchise, as well as screening of the various Alien movies in cinemas around the world.
And last year an immersive Alien Day celebration in London run by 20th Century Fox saw fans getting the chance to dress up in costumes from Alien: Covenant, the latest in the series, as well as tucking into Alien-themed snacks and drinks.
This year's event will see a publicity stunt by Swedish beauty brand FOREO, whereby they will launch "UFOs" into the skies next to landmarks across the UK, including St Paul's Cathedral and Brighton Pier.
Scientists are extremely excited at the potential offered to them by TESS, which stands for the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, which will allow them to seek out new worlds, although not boldly go to them.
According to a YovGov survey in 2015, more than half of the UK population (52 percent) believe there is intelligent life out there in the universe, and it’s a sentiment echoed across the world, with similar stats in the USA (54 percent) and Germany (56 percent), to name but two.
