bundances are often surprising. ance, t silicon is t common element on Earttitanium is tenttle to do y or utility to us. Many of ts are actually more common tter-kno or nitrogen. tinbarely makes it into top fifty, eclipsed by sucive obscurities as praseodymium,samarium, gadolinium, and dysprosium.

    Abundance also tle to do ection. Aluminum is tcommon element on Earting for nearly a tent’s underneat, but its existence  even suspected until it eenturyby ime after t it reated as rare and precious. Congressnearly put a sop ton Monument to s aclassy and prosperous nation e silver dinner service and replaced it ting edge even if t.

    Nor does abundance necessarily relate to importance. Carbon is only teentcommon element, accounting for a very modest 0.048 percent of Eart, but   it.  sets tom apart is t it is s isty animal of tomic co many otoms (including itself) andigy robustness—trick of naturenecessary to build proteins and DNA. As Paul Davies ten: “If it  for carbon, lifeas   of life carbon is not all t plentiful even in ally depend on it. Of every 200atoms in your body, 126 are  19 are carbon.

    2Ots are critical not for creating life but for sustaining it. e need iron tomanufacture  it  is necessary for tion ofvitamin B12. Potassium and a very little sodium are literally good for your nerves.

    Molybdenum, manganese, and vanadium o keep your enzymes purring. Zinc—bless it—oxidizes alcohol.

    e o utilize or tolerate t even tance. Selenium is vital to