Here are some key characteristics of non-living things:
* Lack of cellular structure: Non-living things are not made up of cells, the fundamental building blocks of life.
* No metabolism: They don't have the ability to carry out chemical reactions to obtain energy and sustain themselves.
* No growth or development: They don't increase in size or complexity over time.
* No reproduction: They don't create offspring or pass on genetic information.
* No response to stimuli: They don't react to changes in their environment.
* No adaptation or evolution: They don't change over generations to better suit their environment.
Examples of non-living things:
* Rocks
* Water
* Air
* Sunlight
* Tables
* Cars
It's important to note:
* Some things, like viruses, exist in a gray area between living and non-living. They are not considered alive because they lack many of the characteristics listed above, but they can reproduce and evolve.
* There are many complex and nuanced discussions around the definition of life, particularly when considering the possibility of life beyond Earth.
Ultimately, while the exact definition of non-living things might be debated, it's clear that they lack the fundamental characteristics that define life.