Mars and the Moon are the only two places Prof Cox could imagine seeing anybody visit and begin to build a permanent presence in his lifetime. Despite asteroids the size of stadiums hurtling through the Solar System, he believes the biggest current danger to Earth is actually its human inhabitants.

Flat Earthers may have chosen to completely dismiss scientific evidence and photos taken of our beautiful blue planet from space, revealing it to be a sphere, as some are set in believing the conspiracy that we are all being lied to and we live on a flat disk.

Humanity must expand civilisation beyond Earth and conquer the stars as quickly as possible, Professor Brian Cox has insisted. The UK's foremost particle physicist believes advancements in space technology,

Prof Brian Cox has said that he would turn down a “horrible” trip to Mars if he were invited. The former musician turned scientist, 56, said that he would prefer to go to the moon instead. Speaking to Radio Times about travelling to Earth’s giant neighbour if he was invited,