Iron

element · metal · earth science

Earth's Heavy Heart. Iron makes up most of Earth's core, the super hot center deep beneath your feet. That's why iron is the single most common element on our whole planet by weight.

Metal We Use Everywhere. Iron is one of the strongest metals we know, so we use it to build skyscrapers, bridges, ships, and tools. It's been helping humans build things for thousands of years.

Your Body Needs It. Your blood contains iron in a protein called hemoglobin, which carries oxygen from your lungs to every part of your body. Without iron, you'd feel tired and weak.

Gift from Space. Most of the iron on Earth came from meteorites that crashed down billions of years ago, before the planet even finished forming. That's why scientists sometimes call iron 'stardust.'

Naturally Magnetic. Iron is one of the few metals that is naturally magnetic, which means it responds to magnets and can even become a magnet itself.