ManusJustus on 28 April 2010
| Rath said: We were in the sweet spot however (right distance from the sun) and had water. Those two together are whats needed for life I think. |
There are extremophiles on the ocean floor that live off energy from volcanic sea vents. Thus, a planet or moon that is outside of the habitable zone can still have liquid water and an energy source for life.
Also, different pressures and temperatures can make other chemicals behave as a liquid, so theres a possibility of other 'chemistries of life' forming in another solvent in extreme places. For instance, it rains methane on Saturn's moon Titan and there are methane lakes, so its possible that a very different type of biochemistry could produce life there.
