Alien life on other planets could be in the form of robots who have outlived their creators, according to the Astronomer Royal. And alarmingly, that is the same fate which may befall people on Earth too. Numerous Hollywood films have presented the possibilities of robots becoming self-aware and deciding to destroy humans so they can rule the world. But Martin Rees, the Astronomer Royal, told Cheltenham Science Festival robots taking over was a possibility. No life beyond Earth has ever been found; there is no evidence that alien life has ever visited our planet.

It's a question that has sent many a space fanatic into orbit: How will humans survive on other planets? Now one of the country's leading astronomers believes the answer could be even more out of this world – by making future explorers part cyborg. Martin Rees, the Astronomer Royal, said modern space pioneers could try to modify themselves and become a mix of'flesh, blood and electronics'. Referencing entrepreneurs such as Elon Musk, Lord Rees told the Hay Festival: 'These intrepid explorers on Mars will be out of the clutches of the regulators and they will have every incentive to modify themselves because they are very badly adapted for Mars. The Astronomer Royal, Martin Rees said modern space pioneers could try to modify themselves and become a mix of'flesh, blood and electronics' (Stock image) Human hand and robot's as a symbol of connection between people and artificial intelligence technology'They will use all these techniques to adapt themselves.

Human-level intelligence is familiar in biological hardware – you're using it now. Science and technology seem to be converging, from several directions, on the possibility of similar intelligence in non-biological systems. It is difficult to predict when this might happen, but most artificial intelligence (AI) specialists estimate that it is more likely than not within this century. Freed of biological constraints, such as a brain that needs to fit through a human birth canal (and that runs on the power of a mere 20W lightbulb), non-biological machines might be much more intelligent than we are. What would this mean for us?

THE importance of science in society has no greater spokesperson than Lord Martin Rees. From his perch at Cambridge--and a centre he formed on studying existential risks--he has served as both a promoter, populariser and the moral conscience of scientific endeavour far beyond his academic field of astrophysics. In "Our Final Century" in 2003 (retitled more breathlessly "Our Final Hour" in the American edition) he presented a range of global challenges, from bioterrorism to nuclear weapons. He put the risk of human extinction by 2100 from our technologies at around 50%. His latest book, "On the Future", is more sanguine.

The sun formed 4.5 billion years ago, but it's got around 6 billion years more before its fuel runs out. It will then flare up, engulfing the inner planets. And the expanding universe will continue--perhaps forever--destined to become ever colder, ever emptier. To quote Woody Allen, eternity is very long, especially toward the end. Any creatures witnessing the sun's demise won't be human--they'll be as different from us as we are from a bug.

We live in a world that is increasingly dependent on elaborate networks: electricity grids, air traffic control, international finance, just-in-time delivery, globally dispersed manufacturing, and so forth. Unless these networks are highly resilient, their benefits could be outweighed by catastrophic (albeit rare) breakdown--real-world analogues of what happened to the financial system in 2008. Our cities would be paralysed without electricity. Supermarket shelves would be empty within days if supply chains were disrupted. Air travel can spread a pandemic worldwide within days.

Artificial intelligence is progressing at a frightening pace leading humanity towards its ultimate destruction. This is according to British theoretical astrophysicist, Sir Martin Rees, who believes we are facing an'inorganic post-human era'. By some estimates, he says, the process will begin in the next 25 years as robots begin to achieve intelligence rivalling that of humans. The British Astronomer Royal, Sir Martin Rees, believes that we are facing an'inorganic post-human era' in which robot intelligence will surpass that of people, leading to humanity's ultimate destruction Sir Martin, who is one of the world's most eminent astronomers, says that while Earth has existed for 45 million centuries, this century is special. Over nearly all of Earth's history, threats have come from nature, but from now on, the worst dangers come from us – and specifically artificial intelligence.

Human-level intelligence is familiar in biological hardware – you're using it now. Science and technology seem to be converging, from several directions, on the possibility of similar intelligence in non-biological systems. It is difficult to predict when this might happen, but most artificial intelligence (AI) specialists estimate that it is more likely than not within this century. Freed of biological constraints, such as a brain that needs to fit through a human birth canal (and that runs on the power of a mere 20W lightbulb), non-biological machines might be much more intelligent than we are. What would this mean for us?

Human-level intelligence is familiar in biological hardware – you're using it now. Science and technology seem to be converging, from several directions, on the possibility of similar intelligence in non-biological systems. It is difficult to predict when this might happen, but most artificial intelligence (AI) specialists estimate that it is more likely than not within this century. Freed of biological constraints, such as a brain that needs to fit through a human birth canal (and that runs on the power of a mere 20W lightbulb), non-biological machines might be much more intelligent than we are. What would this mean for us?