Steven Spielberg's sci-fi movie "E.T." [File Photo: Xinhua]

Scientists are less than two decades away from being able to detect real signs of extraterrestrial life, Swiss scientist Michel Mayor was quoted by media reports as saying Thursday.

Mayor, leader of a European team that announced the discovery of the most Earth-like planet yet, now has his sights set on the even bigger target.

"Personally, I feel comfortable with the idea of life existing elsewhere," said the scientist of Switzerland's University of Geneva to the media.

But Mayor also admitted that as a scientist, he was unsure whether other life forms are present in our universe.

"There's only one thing we can do. We can do science, we can do experiments. We have the methodology, the ability to do this simply on science, so let's do it," the 65-year-old said.

Mayor was credited in 1995 with co-finding the first planets outside our solar system.

European astronomers Tuesday announced that they have spotted the most Earth-like planet yet outside our solar system, with balmy temperatures that could support water and life.

The discovery of the new planet is described as a big step in the search for life in the universe. But researchers do not yet know if the planet contains water, if it is truly rocky like Earth, or whether it is blanketed by a thick atmosphere.