Symphony in C：Carbon and the Evolution of (Almost) Everything

Anenchantingbiographyofthemostresonant―andmostnecessary―chemicalelementonEarth.Carbon.It’sinthefibersinyourhair,thetimbersinyourwalls,thefoodthatyoueat,andtheairthatyoubreathe.It’sworthbillionsasaluxuryandhalfatrillionasanecessity,buttherearestillmysteriesyettobesolvedabouttheelementthatcanbebothdiamondandcoal.Wheredoesitcomefrom,whatdoesitdo,andwhy,aboveall,doeslifeneedit?Withpoeticstorytelling,earthscientistRobertHazenleadsusonaglobaljourneythroughtheoriginandevolutionoflife’smostubiquitouselement.Thestoryunfoldsinfourmovements―Earth,Air,Fire,andWater―andtransportsusthrough14billionyearsofcosmichistory.FromthearchivesofHarvardtothecliffsofScotlandandintothepreciousmetalminesofNamibia,SymphonyinCisasweepingchronicleofcarbon:themostessentialelementonEarth.8pagesofcolorillustrations