Where Could Life Thrive in the Universe? A Supercomputer May Have the Answer

Researchers used the EAGLE cosmological simulation to identify regions most favorable for life, accounting for element enrichment and catastrophic hazards like supernovae, gamma-ray bursts, stellar encounters and active galactic nuclei. They find the Sun's position in the Milky Way lies within an optimal galactic habitable zone, and many similar galaxies provide long-lived, relatively safe environments for life.