Name: What a planet needs to sustain life
Uploaded: 2016-08-12T14:49:58Z
Duration: 13 min 32 s
Description: "Venus is too hot, Mars is too cold, and Earth is just right," says planetary scientist Dave Brain. But why? In this pleasantly humorous talk, Brain explores the fascinating science behind what it takes for a planet to host life -- and why humanity may just be in the right place at the right time when it comes to the timeline of life-sustaining planets.

"Venus is too hot, Mars is too cold, and Earth is just right," says planetary scientist Dave Brain. But why? In this pleasantly humorous talk, Brain explores the fascinating science behind what it takes for a planet to host life -- and why humanity may just be in the right place at the right time when it comes to the timeline of life-sustaining planets.

Dave Brain: What a planet needs to sustain life

What a planet needs to sustain life

Life on Earth, from flying bears to single-celled organisms, depends on just three things: energy, nourishment, and liquid water.

Mars once had conditions suitable for life - evidence of riverbeds suggests it had a thicker atmosphere and liquid water.

Exploring Venus, Earth, and Mars reveals the delicate balance required for a planet to be habitable, a riddle we're still solving.