The Sixth Element: How Carbon Shapes Our World

A cosmic perspective on carbon—its importance in the universe and our lives

When we think of carbon, we might first think of a simple element near the top of the periodic table: symbol C, atomic number 6. Alternatively, we might think of something more tangible—a sooty piece of coal or a sparkling diamond, both made of carbon. Or, as Earth’s temperature continues to rise alarmingly, we might think of the role carbon plays in climate change. Yet carbon’s story begins long ago, far from earthl...