What resource do we receive directly from outside Earth

Solution

Energy, specifically solar radiation from the Sun, represents the only resource among these options that Earth receives directly from extraterrestrial sources rather than from within the planet itself. This solar energy drives fundamental planetary systems including photosynthesis, weather patterns, ocean currents, and the water cycle. While Earth also receives cosmic radiation from space, solar energy remains our most significant external energy source. In contrast, the other options originate entirely from Earth's internal resources: minerals are extracted from the planet's crust; coal forms from compressed plant matter over millions of years within the Earth; and natural gases such as methane are found in subsurface deposits accessed through drilling operations.