In general, it means just the perfect conditions for a certain event to happen. Not too much, not too little – just as the porridge that Goldilocks tasted was not too hot and not too cold, in story of Three Bears.

Goldilocks conditions are primarily used in context of life creation on the Earth, as explained by David Christian in his TED talk: The history of our world in 18 minutes.

Three Goldilocks conditions for life are:

• right amount of energy,
• diverse chemical elements and
• liquids.

Wider concept based on the same idea is known as the Goldilocks principle – “just the right amount” of something.

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