New ideas on what makes a planet habitable could reshape the search for life

Some planets in the habitable zone are not good for life, but others outside it might be

illustration of a steamy ocean horizon

A planet with a global ocean under a steamy hydrogen atmosphere, like the world shown in this artist’s illustration, could be a ripe place to search for life, researchers say.

Amanda Smith/University of Cambridge

When considering where to look for extraterrestrial life, astronomers have mostly stuck with what’s familiar.