The Chemistry of Life: Why Phosphorus and Nitrogen Rule the Stars

This shift in thinking changes how we might evaluate future exoplanet discoveries. Instead of just looking for the glint of distant oceans, scientists are proposing that we look at the chemical composition of the host stars. Since planets are formed from the same cloud of gas and dust as their stars, the elemental makeup of a sun can tell us a great deal about the likely chemistry of its planets. Searching for "Solar-type" stars with specific elemental ratios may be our best bet for finding a world that isn't just wet, but truly alive.