Water and oxygen aren’t enough: Scientists reveal two ‘must-have’ ingredients for life on other planets

New research from ETH Zurich challenges the long-held “follow the water” rule in the search for extraterrestrial life. Scientists argue that a planet’s habitability depends on a narrow chemical balance during core formation, preserving phosphorus and nitrogen in its mantle. Earth falls within this rare “Goldilocks” range, potentially making truly life-supporting worlds far rarer than assumed.