Astronomers searching for habitable worlds might do best to look for rocky planets several times larger than Earth. That's because, according to a new study, our planet is at the lower end of the size range needed for plate tectonics—which scientists believe are vital for stabilizing temperatures enough for life. "Plate tectonics is important for the carbon cycle to operate," Valencia said. "Carbon cycling is the Earth's climate thermostat. Over time, it's kept the Earth's temperature around [that of] liquid water, allowing life to emerge." The scientists believe that super-Earths look very much like our world—especially if they contain water.
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