These days, every exoplanet discovery is still rich with excitement, as astronomers scrutinize each distant world and consider its possible characteristics. But this could get tedious pretty soon, as the number of confirmed exoplanets climbs into the thousands. When that happens, astronomers and especially astrobiologists will have to start sifting planets according to their interestingness.
A new paper to be published next month describes a new two-step ranking system to make this process easier. Unlike other astrobiology criteria, this new system doesn't assume that habitability only applies to a rocky place with liquid water.
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