Extra-terrestrial life came under the microscope today as scientists and academics met to discuss its possible effect on humanity. The second day of the London conference, organised by the Royal Society, the UK’s national academy of science, was due to hear talks on human responses to extra-terrestrial life.

Lord Martin Rees, president of the society, was asking whether a microwave transmission from light years away would result in fear and pandemonium or even delight.

Other speakers at the conference were due to investigate the implications of the discovery of alien life for religion and theology. And the world’s leading ET hunter, Dr Frank Drake, was due to discuss the search for beings from another realm.

Many UFO sightings have been blamed on meteorites, satellite debris, unusual cloud formations or aircraft lights. It is also possible a secret US spy plane – the existence of which has never been officially admitted – may have been behind a number of UFO sightings.

Aurora was the name given to an unmanned US reconnaissance aircraft supposedly developed in secret programmes in the 1980s and alleged to be capable of hypersonic flight. More than 70 witnesses reported sightings in Cornwall, South Wales and Shropshire on March 31, 1993, with many describing a low-flying object, making a humming sound. After inquiring about “activity of US origins” the head of the UFO desk was told to drop the matter.

Dr Drake said yesterday satellite TV and the digital revolution was making humanity more invisible to aliens.