Abstract
The conditions for occurrence of the Efimov effect is briefly described using hyperspherical coordinates. The strength of the effective hyperradial ρ−2 potential appearing for two or three large scattering lengths is computed and discussed as a function of two independent mass ratios of the three constituent particles. The effect is by far most pronounced for asymmetric systems with three very different masses. One Efimov state may by chance appear in nuclei. Many states could be present for systems with one electron and two neutral atoms or molecules. Estimates of the number of states and their sizes and energies are given.