Is there life on other planets?

The question is the stuff of science fiction, but a French scientist is attempting to find an answer with a telescope. The so-called "hypertelescope" uses numerous small mirrors to reflect light from distant objects into a camera. It relies on a recently-developed technique to get the most from a meagre amount of light and produce a detailed picture. The design is the brainchild of maverick scientist Antoine Labeyrie, a professor at the prestigious College de France. He says the telescope is powerful enough to scan the surfaces of faraway planets and could provide clues about life there. It is a bold project given that the world's major space agencies are still years away from a "planet imager" of this sort, but if it works, it could revolutionise astronomy.