Book Description

"Carbon is arguably humankind's most important chemical element - indeed, possibly the most important element in the universe. Created in the fiery furnaces of stars, carbon is the chemical backbone of the planets and life as we know it. It is essential to every part of our lives: the bones and tissue which give us all shape, the food we eat, the tools we use, the climate which supports life on this planet. Despite these facts, carbon's importance is often overlooked. In this short, popular-level book, astronomers Theodore Snow and Donald Brownlee consider carbon from a cosmic perspective, explaining the inherent chemical and physical nature of the element as well as the ways in which it is foundational to nearly everything in the universe, our environment, and our lives. Snow and Brownlee first discuss the carbon's discovery and origin, as well as the aspects of carbon's chemical makeup (such as its incredible ability to link to itself and bond with many other elements) that make it so special and important to the history of the universe and our solar system. After addressing carbon's role in the chemical evolution of the universe, including the formation and evolution of galaxies, stars, planets, and life, the authors go on to describe its technological uses and its influence on Earth's climate and planetary habitability more generally. Throughout, the authors discuss not only the element itself, but also the scientists across numerous disciplines whose research helped illuminate carbon's wide-ranging importance"--