This chapter traces the journey of carbon from its creation in stars to its central role in life on Earth, revealing how a single element links astronomy, chemistry, biology, and geology. It begins with stellar nucleosynthesis, explaining how carbon is forged in the cores of stars and dispersed throughout the universe by supernovae. The chapter then examines the unique atomic properties that make carbon exceptionally versatile, enabling the formation of complex, stable molecules essential for life. Turning to Earth, it explains the carbon cycle – the movement of carbon between the atmosphere, oceans, living organisms, and the planet’s interior – focusing on processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, combustion, and geological recycling through plate tectonics and volcanism. These interconnected processes show how carbon is conserved while being continually transformed across vastly different timescales. The chapter also introduces radiocarbon dating, demonstrating how the predictable decay of carbon-14 allows scientists to determine the age of organic materials and reconstruct Earth’s recent past. Together, these ideas present carbon as a unifying thread connecting cosmic origins, biological metabolism, planetary dynamics, and humanity’s ability to measure time itself.