Stunning 3D images depict new view of alien life forms

Science fiction has long been obsessed with the idea of alien life forms and how they may appear. Over the years we have seen little green men, bug-eyed monsters and predatory killers take to the silver and smaller screens to represent our idea of life from outer space. But scientific fact may hold the key to a more realistic depiction of creatures and plants which have adapted to meet the harsh challenges of alien worlds. In the hunt for extra-terrestrial life, astronomers often try to find Earth-sized planets in what is called the'habitable zone' of their host star. This means they are orbiting at the correct distance for liquid water to exist on the planet.