The chances of alien life existing beyond the Earth have been boosted by the discovery that the number of stars in the universe might be triple current estimates.
This would potentially take the total for the universe to a stellar three septillion – or a three followed by 24 zeroes - more than the total number of grains of sand on all the Earth's beaches and deserts.
If that were not mind-boggling enough, the discovery boosts the chances of extra-terrestrial life.
The ‘new stars’ are red dwarfs – small bundles of glowing gases cooler and dimmer than the sun.
