Carbon is great molecular glue—there’s not doubt about it. Just add water and you’ve got life. Well, maybe it’s not quite that simple, but carbon and water do seem to be a winning combo, at least on planet Earth. That may be why we’ve been limiting ourselves in our search for . The carbon/water combo has worked so well for our own conditions, that we simply can’t imagine anything else supporting life.

other options do exist besides water and carbon

there are several atoms and solvents that could potentially spawn life

Various elements become more stable and capable of forming complex molecules when under strange (from a human perspective) thermal and atmospheric conditions.

silicone-based chemicals would be more stable than equivalent hydrocarbons in a sulphuric-acid-rich setting

counter-intuitive elements such as arsenic

Chlorine and sulfur

Nitrogen and phosphorus

Isn’t at least water essential to life? Not necessarily.