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What might extraterrestrial microbes eat?

The universe is a big place. Trying to find life on other planets is very much like the proverbial needle in a haystack. To help us narrow down the search, astrobiologists like to think about where life is and is not likely to survive, so we can concentrate our efforts effectively. Eliminating a planet because it is too hot or cold, too dry or has no atmosphere is fairly obvious (though not easy), but what about whether there is enough for an extraterrestrial to eat?

My latest paper explores this very topic, looking at some of the most energy-limited environments on earth - the deep subsurface - as examples.

Diagram of habitability factors