And could any of these TRAPPIST-1 planets— especially the three in the habitable zone— have the right ingredients for it to develop? The three planets in the habitable zone of this star are promising because their rocky surfaces could support liquid water, which is essential for life as we know it. Plus, if the planets are indeed rocky, they could contain the six right elements in the right concentration for life, Sasselov said: stuff like carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen. “When we look for potentially life-bearing planets, there’s really one thing we’re looking for, and that’s liquid surface water,” Kipping told Fox News. There are three planets in the system that would be at the right temperature for liquid water to exist.

Source: Fox News February 23, 2017 17:03 UTC