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Crash Course Big History: Why Star Stuff Matters

Crash Course Big History: Why Star Stuff Matters

Carbon is just another element the same way pizza is just another food. Life is impossible without it. (Oh, and same goes for carbon.)

Key Ideas

As this video progresses, key ideas will be introduced to invoke discussion.

Think about the following questions as you watch the video


  1. What was the Universe like before carbon existed, and what was it like after?
  2. What makes carbon so important on Earth?
  3. How did the flexibility of carbon lead to the first life forms?
  4. How is charcoal responsible for “the next rise of complexity”?
  5. Why is it possible that carbon may ultimately be our downfall?