Habitability refers to the ability of an environment or planet to support life. It encompasses various factors that determine whether conditions are suitable for living organisms, such as the presence of essential resources like water, nutrients, and energy, as well as suitable temperature ranges, atmospheric composition, and protection from harmful radiation. In the context of planets, habitability often considers whether a celestial body resides in the “habitable zone,” where temperatures allow for the presence of liquid water. In broader terms, habitability can apply to any environment in which life could thrive, including ecosystems on Earth and potentially other locations in the universe.
In a groundbreaking discovery, a research team led by Shishir Dholakia, a PhD student at the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) Centre for Astrophysics, has identified Gliese 12 b, a…