Goldilocks phenomenon
 | It has been suggested that this article be merged into Habitable zone. (Discuss) Proposed since May 2007. |
The "Goldilocks phenomenon" refers to the necessity that planetary conditions such as size or temperature be "just right" in order to sustain life. The term derives from the story of Goldilocks, who preferred porridge which was "not too hot, and not too cold".
A widely used example of the effect is our solar system's habitable zone (also referred to as the "Goldilocks Zone"), which is likewise neither too hot, nor too cold for life to exist, and where the Earth is found. Astronomer James Lovelock, proponent of the Gaia hypothesis, is credited with coining the term.
It is somewhat flawed in that life exists between 5 F (-15 C) (Cryptoendoliths in Antarctica), and 250 degrees Fahrenheit (121 degrees Celsius) (thermophilic deep sea Bacteria, Thermal Vents).
See also
External links
- NASA: The Goldilocks Zone
- Interstellar Real Estate: Location, Location, Location - Defining the Habitable Zone
- Definition of "goldilocks" connoting "moderate characteristics" and examples referring to planets dating to 1935.
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