Requirements for life and habitability (geobiology)
Channel: sumnerd
Date: 2021-01-19

Scientists, myself included, think that 3 things are needed for life to exist anywhere in the universe: liquid water, carbon and some other elements (HNOPS), and a source of energy. The elements and sources of energy are widely available on rocky planets, so the real question comes down to whether or not liquid water is present. If it is, an environment is considered habitable, e.g. it provides the 3 requirements that life needs to exist.