GETTY There could be life on Pluto

Dr Alan Stern sparked frenzied speculation that the space agency was about to announce a groundbreaking discovery after saying scientists had found something "amazing" on the icy planet. He also referred to the planet as "alive" during a speech to students at the University of Alberta, in Canada, leading people to believe that alien life may have been discovered at the farthest reaches of our solar system. The leading scientist was quoted as telling the meeting: "Nasa won't let me tell you what we're going to tell you on Thursday. It's amazing." However, there was huge disappointement when Dr Stern took to social media to quash the rumours, saying he had "no idea" how the remarks had been misinterpreted.

New photos of Pluto released by NASA Wed, November 16, 2016 NASA's New Horizons space craft made its long-awaited approach to Pluto, nine years after it was launched in 2006. See the incredible journey in pictures. Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 46 Pluto nearly fills the frame in this image from the Long Range Reconnaissance Imager aboard NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft

Using the handle @NewHorizons2015 he sent a series of tweets, which he then retweeted from his own personal account, debunking the idea of an imminent announcement. He wrote: "There is a false rumor going around that there will be a BIG New Horizons science announcement tomorrow. Completely false." Asked by a fellow user whether he had been misquoted, he replied: "No idea how it was misinterpreted but it was." He had previously retweeted a link to a newspaper story in which the same quotes appeared.

There is a false rumor going around that there will be a BIG New Horizons science announcement tomorrow. Completely false. — NewHorizons2015 (@NewHorizons2015) October 7, 2015

@paulsanderson No idea how it was misinterpreted but it was. — NewHorizons2015 (@NewHorizons2015) October 7, 2015

The top scientist, who is leading NASA's ambitious New Horizons mission to Pluto, sparked frenzy when he dropped a huge hint by describing the planet as "alive" during the speech to students. However his employers at NASA had maintained a stony silence about any announcement, contrary to their usual policy of previewing big discoveries. According to reports Dr Stern had said he could not reveal any details ahead of an impending press conference, but appeared barely able to contain his excitement at his organisation's latest find. Speaking about Pluto, he said: “It has weather, it has hazes in the atmosphere, active geology. Every week I am floored." He then cryptically added: "2015 will be a year in textbooks forever." Just 10 per cent of the data including highly detailed photographs collected by the groundbreaking probe has been downloaded by scientists so far, meaning that the scope for future discoveries about the planet is huge.

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