Water is a necessity for life, so it is also called "the universal solvent" by scientists. The water molecule is vital to all living things. After all, it is the only molecule that can bond with itself, which allows it to form hydrogen bonds. These hydrogen bonds are essential for the structure of proteins and nucleic acids, vital to all life. The water molecule is also crucial to Earth for maintaining the temperature of the surface of the planet. This is known as the greenhouse effect.