Bookies slash odds on finding ET

Bookies have slashed ET’s odds after scientists announced the discovery of a new Earth-like planet that may harbour life.

William Hill said it had shortened the odds on proving the existence of extra-terrestrial intelligence from 1,000/1 to 100/1.

Spokesman Graham Sharpe said: “We would face a possible eight figure payout if it were to be confirmed that intelligent life of extra-terrestrial origin currently exists.

“We felt we had to react to the news that an Earth-like planet which could support intelligent life had been discovered – after all, we don’t know for sure that intelligent extra-terrestrial life has not already been discovered, but is being hushed up.”

The new planet, so far unnamed, is 20.5 light years away and orbits a red dwarf star called Gliese 581.

It is 1.5 times bigger and five times more massive than Earth, with about twice Earth’s gravity.

Astronomers who broke the news yesterday said the planet was the right distance from the star to allow liquid water to exist on its surface.

It was possible that the planet had continents, oceans, and life.

Dr Xavier Delfosse, a member of the European team from Grenoble University in France, said: “On the treasure map of the universe, one would be tempted to mark this planet with an X.”

The star is more ancient than the Sun, raising the tantalising possibility that life on the new planet may be older and more advanced than it is on Earth.

Scientists at the SETI (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Life) Institute in the US plan to listen for intelligent signals from the star system.

“The older the star is, maybe the greater the chance that it has produced something that’s clever,” said SETI spokesman Dr Seth Shostak.

For William Hill to pay out on an ET bet, the British Prime Minister has to officially confirm the existence of intelligent extra-terrestrial life within a year of the wager being placed.

Mr Sharpe said: “We have come a cropper before when, in the early 60s, we offered 1000/1 about man walking on the moon before 1970 and ended up paying out the equivalent of a million pounds, including £10,000 to the first man to place such a bet, David Threlfall.”