We Are Solar Powered Stardust
We are golden.
We are all made of stardust. This statement may sound like a poetic metaphor, but it’s a scientific fact.
The elements that make up our bodies, such as carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen, were formed in the hearts of stars through nuclear fusion. But the connection between stardust and our bodies doesn’t end there. The energy that powers our bodies also comes from stars: specifically from the sun.
I will make the case that there is no real difference between a living planet and a living cell. There isn’t a distinct line separating the two. Biochemistry naturally develops from geochemistry.
From this perspective, it makes sense that we can’t tell ancient rocks apart from biological life. A living planet produces life on Earth, and separating the two would require breaking a continuity.
One starts to question whether biology is now home to all of the most intriguing physics questions.
Through photosynthesis, plants and algae use energy from the sun to convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and glucose. This glucose is then used as a source of energy for plants or algae and animals that eat them, like us.
