Don’t talk to aliens, Cox told

PROFESSOR Brian Cox was told he and amateur stargazers couldn’t try to make contact with aliens — in case health and safety rules were broken and they decided to answer back.

Oldham’s top TV scientist told BBC 6 Music’s breakfast show: “We need to go through the regulations and health and safety and everything in case we discover a signal from an alien civilisation. It was incredible. The BBC have guidelines.”

The newly-discovered Threapleton Holmes B — a planet in a distant solar system — was found on Mr Cox’s “Stargazing Live” programme. But he couldn’t say hello.