Of Aliens and Exoplanets: Why the search for life, probably, requires the search for water

TL;DR

The paper argues that water is essential for the origin of life and emphasizes the importance of searching for water on exoplanets to find extraterrestrial life, based on its unique physical, chemical, and biological properties.

Contribution

It demonstrates that water's properties make it the most suitable medium for abiogenesis, highlighting the need to focus on water detection in extraterrestrial environments.

Findings

Water's physical, chemical, and biological properties facilitate life formation.

Assumptions excluding water from models impact astronomical observations.

Searching for water is crucial in the quest for extraterrestrial life.

Abstract

It is not currently possible to create a living organism ab initio due to the overwhelming complexity of biological systems. In fact, the origin of life mechanism, this being how biological organisms form from non-living matter, is unknown. In an attempt to better understand how abiogenesis can occur, some researchers have taken water out of their models and instead opted for more exotic approaches. These assumptions will have strong implications for astronomical observations and potential future space exploration. By breaking down water's properties to the physical, chemical and biological level, herewith it is demonstrated to be the most adequate medium for the formation of life.