Elements That Shape Our World

The standout elements and why they matter:

• Oxygen (8) makes up 65% of human body mass and 21% of the atmosphere
• Carbon (6) forms the backbone of every organic molecule — DNA, proteins, fats, sugars
• Iron (26) carries oxygen in your blood and forms Earth's magnetic core
• Silicon (14) is the basis of computer chips and the second most abundant element in the crust
• Uranium (92) powers nuclear reactors and keeps Earth's interior hot enough for plate tectonics

From hydrogen to uranium, the natural elements are the complete toolkit the physical world is built from.