A curious chilly area of space may have been created when a parallel universe crashed into our own, scientists have suggested, the first evidence that we may be part of a multiverse.

In 2015, astrophysicists discovered a strange barren area of the universe which was much colder than the rest of space, and seemed to be missing 10,000 galaxies.

The ‘Cold Spot’ which is 1.8 billion light-years across, is the largest known structure ever discovered, yet appeared to contain 20 per cent less matter than it should, and has baffled scientists since it was recorded.

But now experts Durham University have come up with a solution which is not only out of this world, but out of this universe.

They believe that a parallel universe crashed into ours, causing a shunting action much like in a traffic accident when cars pile up on the motorway. The impact was so extreme that it pushed energy out of huge area of space, creating the Cold Spot.