Q. The term ‘Goldilocks Zone’ is often seen news in the context of

• the limits of habitable zone above the surface of the Earth
• regions inside the Earth where shale gas is available
• search for the Earth-like planets in outer space
• search for meteorites containing precious metals

Answer: (c) search for the Earth-like planets in outer space

Goldilocks Zone

• A habitable zone, also called the “Goldilocks zone”, is the area around a star where it is not too hot and not too cold for liquid water to exist on the surface of surrounding planets.
• Our Earth is in the Sun’s Goldilocks zone. If Earth were where the dwarf planet Pluto is, all its water would freeze; on the other hand, if Earth were where Mercury is, all its water would boil off.
• Life on Earth started in water, and water is a necessary ingredient for life as we know it.
• So, when scientists search for the possibility of alien life, any rocky exoplanet in the habitable zone of its star is an exciting find.