The sixth element: how carbon shapes our world.

"The Sixth Element: How Carbon Shapes Our World" is a book review that explores the significance of carbon in our universe. The authors, an astrophysicist/astrochemist and an astrobiologist, trace the origins and unique properties of carbon, highlighting its role in the creation of life as we know it. The text delves into the chemistry of carbon, its presence on Earth and in the solar system, and its impact on climate and habitability. The review also touches on the use of carbon in various aspects of modern life, from fossil fuels to diamonds, and discusses the current climate crisis fueled by carbon emissions. [Extracted from the article]