Reviews of Modern Physics | 2019
Colloquium : Physical constraints for the evolution of life on exoplanets
Abstract
Since the 1990s over 4000 exoplanets have been discovered: which of them could also develop and harbor life? It is posited that the planet must have liquid water, a surrounding atmosphere, and must be both biocompatible and possess the bioessential elements to be habitable. This Colloquium explores what features of the central star are conducive to these requirements with an eye toward optimizing our search for extraterrestrial life.