Metal-Poor Stars: Better for Life?

Metal-poor stars, which contain comparatively large amounts of heavy elements, provide more favorable conditions for the emergence of complex life than metal-rich stars, according to a study by scientists from the Max Planck Institutes for Solar System Research and for Chemistry as well as from the University of Göttingen. The study shows how the metallicity of a star is connected to the ability of its planets to surround themselves with a protective ozone layer, which is crucial for the emergence of complex life. As the universe ages, it becomes increasingly unfriendly to the emergence of complex life on new planets.