Earth's Habitability – Quick Reference (Habitable Factors)

Temperature

• Influences how quickly atoms and molecules move; affects chemical reaction rates.
• Life-friendly liquid water range: $-15^\circ\mathrm{C} \text{ to } 115^\circ\mathrm{C}$.
• At about $125^\circ\mathrm{C}$, proteins, carbohydrates, and genetic material (DNA/RNA) start to break; rapid water evaporation occurs.
• Earth surface lies within this temperature range; subsurface environments on solid planets/moons may also fall in this range.