Astronomer, author, and science communicator Carl Sagan is almost the patron saint of science. He captivated the world with his poetic musings on the universe and immensely popular TV series all the way back in 1980 — Cosmos: A Personal Voyage. And Sagan’s legacy is still felt today reverberating through all the kids he inspired to be scientists.
In short, Sagan was one of the original trailblazers for science communication, laying the groundwork for the likes of Bill Nye and Neil deGrasse Tyson. Since his untimely death in 1996, Sagan is remembered for his curiosity and passion for the universe, which inspired millions.
Today is Sagan’s birthday, and you can celebrate by being extra curious and compassionate, or by checking out any of these handy links below:
- Watch Cosmos, the program that brought Carl and his wonderful vision of the universe to the public.
- Listen to Carl’s words auto-tuned and set to music in this moving video:
- Try not to feel absolutely humbled by Carl’s most famous speech, the “Pale Blue Dot”:
- You can watch a tribute lecture to Carl here.
- You can purchase any one of Carl’s many books (I recommend The Demon Haunted World, a great primer on skepticism), here.
- You can revel in Carl’s way with words by checking out some of his profound quotes about science, religion, skepticism, and life, here.
- You can learn about Carl’s life, interests, projects (including working on spacecraft, rovers, etc.), and enduring legacy, here.
And remember, you are a way for the cosmos to know itself. You’re an awesome collection of star stuff.
