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Astronomers have established a new condition that favors the emergence of life on other planets. According to a study published in The Astrophysical Journal, organic compounds suitable for prebiotic chemistry are more likely to form in atmospheres rich in carbon monoxide than in high levels of carbon dioxide.
In 2009, NASA’s Kepler telescope demonstrated that 20-50% of visible stars may contain habitable rocky planets the size of Earth. However, the presence of liquid water alone does not guarantee that a planet is potentially habitable. On Earth, carbon compounds such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and carbon monoxide (CO) play a crucial role in shaping the climate and biogeochemistry that favors the emergence of life.
