What makes a planet habitable? Is it size, temperature, or just the right distance from its star? The search for habitable exoplanets goes far beyond finding an Earth twin—it’s about uncovering the intricate balance of conditions that could support life in the universe.

In this episode of Cosmos in a Pod, we explore:

• The Limits of the Earth Similarity Index (ESI): Why comparing planets solely to Earth doesn’t tell the full story.
• New Metrics for Habitability: How factors like stellar activity, tidal locking, and atmospheric stability redefine what it means to be habitable.
• Exoplanet Case Studies: Fascinating worlds like Gliese 1002b, K2-72e, and Kepler-452b challenge our understanding of life-friendly conditions.
• The Future of Discovery: Advanced telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope and Ariel Mission will reveal atmospheric compositions and potential biosignatures.
• Earth’s Role as the Gold Standard: What our home planet teaches us about the conditions necessary for life.

Join host Amitesh as we dive into the complexity of the search for life beyond Earth, and consider the question: What does it take for a planet to truly support life?

Thank you for exploring the cosmos with us. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review. Until next time, keep your eyes on the stars—our next discovery could be just a light-year away.