Why do scientists look for water when looking for life? What are the properties of water that are important for sustaining life? Could there be life on other planets without water?

NASA

Ever since NASA was established in 1956, humans have been looking for life beyond Earth. The effort in looking for life elsewhere in our solar system involves looking for the presence of water.

Why do scientists look for water when looking for life? What are the properties of water that are important for sustaining life? Could there be life on other planets without water?