Scientists say this comet could harbor alien life

Data relayed by the Rosetta spacecraft's Philae probe from Comet 67P indicates that the duck-shaped comet could be home to alien life, astronomers reported Monday at the National Astronomy Meeting in Llandudno, Wales.

Astronomers from the University of Cardiff and Buckingham University said the unusual organic black crust on the surface of the comet, formally known as 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, appears to have frozen lakes beneath it that could be inhabited by microbial organisms.

"Rosetta has already shown that the comet is not to be seen as a deep-frozen inactive body, but supports geological processes and could be more hospitable to micro-life than our Arctic and Antarctic regions," Dr. Max Wallis said in a statement.

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However, scientists behind the Rosetta project are less convinced that the comet could harbor alien life. Professor Monica Grady of Open University, who helped design Philae's chemical spectrometer, and Rosetta project scientist Dr. Matt Taylor both dismissed claims of alien life as "highly unlikely."

"It's pure speculation," Dr. Taylor said.