Key Highlights :
The search for signs of life in the universe is a never-ending pursuit. But according to a recent paper, we need to take a more nuanced and careful approach if we want to find signs of life.
The paper, published in the journal Astrobiology, argues that we should focus on the computational zone, which is the band around a star where liquid water can theoretically exist.
"The search for signs of life in the universe is a never-ending pursuit," said study author Dr. Ewan Birney of the University of Edinburgh in the UK. "But based on current knowledge, we should not focus our efforts on the so-called habitable zones around stars, but instead on the computational zone around stars where liquid water can theoretically exist."
The idea behind the computational zone is that it's possible that life could exist in environments outside of the traditional habitable zones.
"The traditional habitable zones around stars are based on the assumption that life needs liquid water to exist," Birney said. "However, we now know that life can exist in a wide range of environments that do not require liquid water."
The study authors argue that we need to take a more nuanced and careful approach when it comes to searching for signs of life, and that we should not be limited by our current knowledge.
"We need to be open to the possibility that life could exist in many environments that we currently consider unsuitable," Birney said. "If we are to find signs of life, we need to be open to the possibility that we may have to search in places that we don't expect."