Question: Why is carbon so versatile? It is the only element that can form rings (benzene: ,geodesic domes (bucky balls), and huge hollow tubes (carbon nanofibers) .Does this flexibility of carbon mean that the only forms of life we are going to find will be carbon based? Can we find more complex shapes and constructions of carbon?

Zoe Roberts answered on 12 Nov 2014:

Carbon is a unique element. It can form covalent bonds (sharing electrons) not only with other elements but also with other carbon atoms. Carbon can form 4 single bonds but it can also form double and triple bonds. (making benzene, bucky balls etc)
Unlike other elements such as silicon, a carbon-carbon bond is stable in the presence of oxygen. This is important as oxygen is a very common element in the universe. It requires more energy for a carbon atom to bond with another element like an oxygen atom than to bond with itself.

As far as I know all life forms are carbon based but there are people researching into inorganic (no carbon based) life forms too.

There is nothing to stop us looking for new shapes of carbon. Maybe you can look into that one day if you become a scientist?