Rosetta scientist who successfully landed probe on a comet apologises over shirt

The tattooed scientist who is part of the team leading the Rosetta mission has apologised for wearing a shirt with partially clothed cartoons of women on it.

Dr Matt Taylor, 41, who is originally from Manor Park, London, wore the colourful shirt featuring a print of PVC-clad women when speaking to the media in an update on the space mission.

The physicist, who played a major role in the key scientific achievement, made an apology for his choice of attire during a live web-chat on Google this afternoon.

He said: “The shirt I worse this week I made a big mistake and I offended many people. I am very sorry for this.”

He wore a dark-coloured long-sleeved hooded top which covered his trademark tattoos as he made the apology.

The item of clothing sparked a frenzy of criticism from scientists online who said it was sexist under the Twitter hash tag #shirtgate.

They claimed Dr Taylor's choice of shirt was particularly inappropriate as science is a field long dominated by men.

Both male and female scientists criticised him over the item of clothing.

Astrophysicist Katie Mack wrote online: 'I don't care what scientists wear. But a shirt featuring women in lingerie isn't appropriate for a broadcast if you care about women in STEM' (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

Others were more supportive. One Twitter user wrote: 'Dr Matt Taylor is what every scientist should look like - rad shirt, sleeve tattoos. Rad,'

Dr Taylor has reportedly been told to cover his tattoos at media events in the past, but has gathered a cult following for his colourful dress sense.

Earlier today Philae researchers announced the probe has landed in the shadow of a cliff which could hinder its work. The robot could run out of battery life because it is only getting 11.5 hours of sunlight a day.