Why is Carbon the Key to Life? (On Earth, Anyway)

One element is the backbone of all forms of life we’ve ever discovered on Earth: carbon. Number six on the periodic table is, to the best of our knowledge, impossible to live without. In this episode of Reactions, discover what makes carbon so exceptional, its nearly infinite capabilities, and potential intergalactic implications. Subscribe! http://bit.ly/ACSReactions Facebook!   / acsreactions   Twitter!   / acsreactions   Instagram!   / acsreactions   Tumblr!   / acsreactions   You might also like: Women in Chemistry: Heroes of the Periodic Table:    • These Two Women Changed Chemistry Forever   We Are Made of "Star Stuff”:    • Where Do Elements Come From?   Why Tardigrades are Some of the Most Hardcore Critters on the Planet    • Tardigrades   Genetically Modified Humans? CRISPR/Cas 9 Explained    • Genetically Modified Humans? CRISPR/Cas 9 ...   Have We Found All The Elements?    • Have We Found All The Elements?   How Can You See an Atom?    • How Can You See an Atom?   Credits: Producer: Kirk Zameiroski Writer: Kirk Zameiroski Scientific Consultants: Nick Hud, PhD Executive Producer: George Zaidan Music: Mako Yama - Cloud Sculpture Sources: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/do... https://advances.sciencemag.org/conte... https://palereddot.org/biosignature-g... https://www.temi.com/editor/t/pYzqYVF... https://www.dropbox.com/s/2qb2i0qhgql... https://www.scientificamerican.com/ar... https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/... https://www.newsweek.com/these-exopla... https://www.chemistryworld.com/featur... https://www.space.com/12665-alien-lif... https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/~ejchaiss... https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2... https://sputniknews.com/science/20190... https://previa.uclm.es/grupo/gao/pub/... https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NB... Ever wonder why dogs sniff each others' butts? Or how Adderall works? Or whether it's OK to pee in the pool? We've got you covered: Reactions a web series about the chemistry that surrounds you every day. Produced by the American Chemical Society. Join the American Chemical Society! http://bit.ly/Join_acsmembership