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In an interview with the website Big Think, the renowned astrophysicist has claimed that mankind is in great danger and that its future "must be in space" if it is to survive.

Hawking believes that threats to the existence of the human race are likely to increase in the future and plans to handle them must be put in place now. He described how "we shall need great care and judgement to negotiate them all successfully, but I'm an optimist. If we can avoid disaster for the next two centuries, our species should be safe, as we spread into space".

Professor Hawking also warned that population rise and finite resources on Earth meant life was becoming increasingly dangerous and the only way to build upon the progress made over the last century was to look out to the rest of the galaxy. He added: "That is why I'm in favour of manned, or should I say 'personed', space flight".

(The Guardian, 9 August 2010)