9 Nov 1934 – 20 Dec 1996
Carl Sagan was an American astronomer, astrophysicist, cosmologist, author, educator and populariser of astronomy and the natural sciences. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, USA on 9 Nov 1934 and died at the age of 62 in Seattle, USA on 20 Dec 1996. His most famous contribution to science was his 1980 TV series Cosmos and accompanying book – still considered by many to be the GREATEST documentary TV series ever.
Quotes from Carl Sagan:
“All the books in the whole world contain no more information than is broadcast as video in a single large American city in a single year. Not all bits have equal value.” And this was in the era before You Tube and HD TV!
“If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you have to invent the universe first.” At first this might appear an odd comment, but when you realise that many of the atoms that exist on earth were actually formed in supernovae, other stars and often extreme events in the universe, it makes sense.