All mysteries
Mystery #2Tier 2worlds for life

What would a faraway planet need to have a real chance of life?

We have now found thousands of planets circling other stars. Most are scorching hot, or frozen solid, or crushed under thick poisonous air. Only a rare few might be gentle enough for living things. So what would a faraway planet actually need to stand a real chance of life?

Earth seen whole from Apollo 17, blue oceans and swirling white cloud, the one planet we know of that ticks every box
Photo: Harrison Schmitt / Apollo 17 · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons

Your guess

What do you think makes one planet a good home for life while another has none?

There's no single magic word to type, have a go in your own words, then reveal the answer to see how close you got.

Make a guess to unlock the hints and the answer.