Carbon Cycles

Carbon Cycles

A close-up image showing a crack in the ground, revealing a narrow, dark crevice between layers of brown, sandy soil with hints of biocrusts forming along the edges.
Think twice before stepping on that crunchy top layer of soil.
two views of the earth from different angles.
The cycles of life all rely on the dynamism of the Earth's crust.
Each year, several trillion pounds of microscopic silicon-based skeletons fall down the water column to pile up into siliceous ooze.
Passing chunks of ice can fertilize ocean waters and play a role in the planet’s carbon cycle.
silicon life
On Earth, carbon can form millions of compounds, while silicon is largely stuck inside rocks. But elsewhere, silicon could form the basis of life.
oldest trees
1859's Carrington event gave us a preview of how catastrophic the Sun could be for humanity. But it could get even worse than we imagined.
carbon dioxide + water → glucose + oxygen
Life largely owes its existence to this equation. Be sure to hug your house plant today.
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