B Gopalakrishnan is a research scholar pursuing PhD at the Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science. His current research involves synthesis and studies on amorphous and crystalline carbon nitride system.

S V Subramanyam is a Professor at the Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. His current research interests include, studies on amorphous carbon systems, conducting polymers and superconductors.

Carbon – the element known from prehistoric time, derives its name from Latin ‘carbo’ meaning charcoal. Carbon is known as the king of elements owing to its versatility and diversity in all fields, which is unquestionable. It is widely distributed in Nature, from molecules of life to matter in outer cosmos. It holds the sixth place in the list of abundance in Universe. The existence of carbon and its role in natural mechanisms are aplenty. The biochemical mechanism responsible for life are very much dependent on the role of carbon either directly or otherwise.

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Address for Correspondence

S V Subramanyam
Department of Physics,
Indian Institute of Science
Bangalore 560 012. India.
Email:svs@physics.iisc.ernet.in