A NASA bombshell confirming alien existence would leave us all 'questioning reality', an expert in psychology of belief claims.

Dr Malcolm Schofield, a psychology lecturer at Derby University, was speaking exclusively to the Daily Star in the wake of NASA's report into UFO /UAP sightings. The report, which Dr Schofield admitted was “a bit dry”, didn't really provide the juicy “we've found aliens” detail that many were hoping for.

In fact, it only said that aliens controlling mysterious objects in the sky was “plausible”, but failed to rule it either in or out. However, that might not be the worst thing in the world.

Dr Schofield explained: “There is a body of research, at the moment, looking at a term called ontological shock, as in ontology, the nature of reality. So if something this big comes out it's going to make a lot of people question that concept of reality, and it is going to make them question their beliefs and society at large.

“It's going to be quite a big deal. So I think as psychologists it will be very very important for us to take a role in that and kind of try and lessen that blow and just be very mindful of people's well being.”

The 33 page report, created by 16 experts, doesn't go as far as confirming that aliens exists, but it does now open to door to the possibility that there could be something else out there. Buried deep at the end of the report is the one thing alien lovers were waiting for.

It states: "At this point there is no reason to conclude that existing UAP reports have an extraterrestrial source. However, if we acknowledge that as one possibility, then those objects must have travelled through our solar system to get here . . . if we recognize the plausibility of any of these, then we should recognize that all are at least plausible.”

One of NASA's key points during a press conference after the report was released, was about calling on the general public to help with more potential sightings. NASA officials also went as far as stating that they wanted to try to remove any stigma associated with admitting to seeing aliens (or possible aliens).

This, Dr Schofield points out, the world has been moving towards acceptance for decades.

“If you're talking about life on other planets, that is generally accepted,” he said.

“When you get down to intelligent life on other planets, that's a different thing, but we're gradually moving in a particular way. And if you thought in the 1970s, that there would actually be a Senate hearing and that NASA would actually be commissioning reports on this kind of stuff, most people would not have believed you.

“I would hope that we would be able to do more research into this area, and look more into what people believe, and also if these things did turn out that there was something to them, working out what kind of effect that has on us as humans would be very, very interesting.”

Taking his doctor hat off, Malcolm admitted that he thinks there is “something out there, but wasn't sure if it was” intelligent or not”.