In a galaxy far, far away, Darwin’s principles still hold firm, scientists predict

Spurred by transient extreme conditions, they write, a similar punctuated equilibrium could be expected during the development of life systems on other worlds.

“We still can’t say whether aliens will walk on two legs or have big green eyes. But we believe evolutionary theory offers a unique additional tool for trying to understand what aliens will be like,” explains Levin.

‘By predicting that aliens undergone major transitions – which is how complexity has arisen in species on earth, we can say that there is a level of predictability to evolution that would cause them to look like us.