Criteria: H | Carbon
Nature built
sandcastles
with carbon.
Shape-shifted
the land
we wander.
What is fundamental to the existence of life on Earth? You may think of water and sunlight, love and hope — Those answers aren’t wrong. However, I’d like you to add carbon to your dictionary of necessities.
This post is about the chemical element, carbon, and how it forms part of the things we use and know of. This also starts off my transition to my blog niche, which I talked to you about last week. Here we go!
Dear Patient Reader,
Maybe you’ve heard the term “carbon-based life forms”? Yes, carbon is a primary block of the pillars of Earth. It all starts with an atom.
Carbon-based life forms? — As humans, we aren’t very different from trees, fungi, and animals. We’re made up of the same atoms and elements. Carbon is special and incredibly versatile. As an atom, carbon acts as the backbone for biomolecules, forming part of the vitamins, hormones, nutrients, and macromolecules in our body. Carbon, therefore, is an important part of all biological processes. The mighty use of the atom in nature makes us look and function the way we do.
Life on Earth would look different without carbon. Remember we said that carbon acts like a backbone? Carbon can readily form bonds with other atoms. Giving carbon the flexibility of form and function. For example, the form and function that biomolecules can take, such as DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (Ribonucleic acid). Both “which are essential for the defining characteristics of life: growth and replication. Carbon molecules are sought after by all organisms, which drives complex carbon cycles through all living systems.”[1]
But let’s come back to growth and replication — The necessity for nature to be able to repeatedly copy itself; the same size, the same patterns, the same species: It’s an extraordinary feat which allows for the birth and evolution of the living, and not-so-living world. As a building block to the genesis of things non-living and living, carbon is one of our absolutes.
The extraction of fossil carbon has been necessary to obtain its energy. A whole lot of burning, burning which has been a prerequisite to progress. The gift of energy, stands as a testament to the prolificacy of carbon. Of elemental abundance in and around Earth, carbon is a pretty cool element. There’s no joking around with the ultimacy of carbon. Carbon is essential to the creation of life. Carbon’s ability to form strong bonds with other naturally-occurring elements allowed for the building of nature’s edifices. Some of which are no longer in existence. Huge sandcastle-like forms. Caves of crystal diamonds. Wonderful isn’t it?
Why is carbon so special? Keep reading.
Imagine, carbon has taken flight and landed on this unknown planet. It comes into contact with one drop of water. The conditions are right and carbon can bond with others, forming molecules. Something miraculous happens; life forms. Creation is beginning to take place. Colliding, the first signs of three-dimensional shapes; forms with weight and mass. Mass we can cup into our hands and marvel at, are being brought to life.
A harbour to life, Earth and its elements shape our world. Carbon is exceptionally unusual due to the possibilities of life it has allowed for. Together with an atomic team, carbon gives life. In a way, carbon does incorporate love and hope, because it lends a helping hand in the making of the things we care for; our favourite part of the beachside, a warm fire. I think it’s safe to say that carbon is our super element. Creating the world we wander.
Have a good week ahead fellas. Ciao
P.S. When deciding on an image for the “building block”, I have to say Tetris kept on nagging me. However, bricks won in the end.
P.P.S. Next week’s post is titled “Breathe Again”, and is about the chemical element, oxygen.
Reference
[1] Doheny-Adams, Tim. n.d. “The importance of carbon to life.” FutureLearn. https://www.futurelearn.com/info/courses/the-biology-of-bugs-brains-and-beasts/0/steps/68848.
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