Metal-rich stars may hinder chances of life in the universe.
Metal-rich stars emit less UV radiation but their associated planets are exposed to more intense UV radiation, according to a study by researchers at the Max-Planck Institute for Solar System Research. The study found that metallicity has a larger impact than stellar temperature on the likelihood of finding complex life on land. Planets hosted by low-metallicity stars should be priority targets for follow-up observations with future telescopes to maximise the likelihood of finding signatures of life.