The thinking goes something like this: If carbon and silicon are so similar, and carbon begets life, why shouldn’t silicon also do so? Those who resist the temptation to be seduced by the silicon argument are often called “carbon chauvinists.” However, perhaps there’s a good reason to admire carbon. Carbon is cosmic. It forms the basis of life on Earth, and is also to be found out in deep space. Carbon is the backbone of biology because of its very nature. It easily bonds with life’s other main elements, like hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. Carbon is also light and small, making it an ideal
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