re: SF writer ask, I'll defer to you on the importance of metals in living things, but your answer gives the impression that that's the same "metal" as in "metallicity". In astronomy, "metal" refers to elements heavier than helium. So life needs stars with higher metallicity for the C, N, O, P, S, or whatever else it'd be made of, in addition to what most people would consider a metal.
You’re right of course, but there’s a relationship between M/H and Fe/H, particularly for group I stars, at least as far as I’ve been led to believe. So metallicity as an astronomical concept is often measured as Fe/H and metallicity distribution functions are reported based on Fe/H, and frankly that’s good enough for me.
But at the end of the day I was oversimplifying matters, and you’re right.
That said, the idea that transition metal chemistry is a prerequisite for life is just a pet theory I have. It isn’t tested anywhere and you’re welcome to argue against it, if you’d like :)
