A recent research shows how asteroid belts play a key role in evolution of life on Earth and in the wider universe. It has been claimed by the team from NASA and the UK's Royal Astronomical Society that presence of right kind of asteroid belt in a solar system could play crucial role in tracking down intelligent life in the universe.

"Asteroids are thought to be a primary mechanism for distributing water and heavy metals across the Earth's surface, and possibly even the building blocks of life itself", said Rebecca Martin, a NASA Sagan Fellow from the University of Colorado, while asserting that an asteroid belt has a major role to play in the development of life.

It has further been said that solar systems gradually gain an asteroid belt around the "snow line", which is extremely cold for volatile materials to remain in solid form. Having said that it must be remembered that an asteroid belt in not enough, there is need of a larger planet to ensure that the belt is not so thick or thin.

It was confirmed that out of all 520 giant planets, only 19 of them were outside the snow line while another four would the similar impact as seen in our own locale.