Tech | November 09, 2011 | 28 comments

Happy Birthday, Carl Sagan

source: http://www.carlsagan.com/

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JanforGore
Today is the birthday of a great scientist and a great man. Carl Sagan instilled a love of the cosmos and science in many and was an inspiration for the world.

Please use this thread to celebrate his life in remembering a man who knew the secret of life:

"The cosmos is in all of us, we're made of star stuff; we are a way for the cosmos to know itself."

Thank you for your education, your inspiration and your insights into a fascinating cosmos.

Happy birthday, Carl Sagan.

http://www.carlsagan.com/

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28 comments // Happy Birthday, Carl Sagan

  • attilatheblond
  • WakeUpPeople
    • +3
      WakeUpPeople  

    • I admire this man so much. He was brilliant. I love this quote:

      "If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe."

    • 7 months ago
  • JanforGore
  • noxidereus
    • +3
      noxidereus  

    • Carl Sagan is one of my favorite people of all time. I think about the quote "The cosmos is in all of us, we're made of star stuff; we are a way for the cosmos to know itself." frequently. He was one of those very rare precious human beings. We need more people like him in this world.

    • 7 months ago
  • JanforGore
    • +2
      JanforGore  
    • noxidereus:

      Yes we do need more people like him. And I love that quote. It speaks to both my love and respect of science, respect for nature and my spirituality. Carl Sagan though rightfully derisive of some aspects of religion when it is misused, still respected those who held beliefs and I respected him for that.

    • 7 months ago
  • queenofit
    • +2
      queenofit  

    • "Only the Good die young"

      "In Greek mythology, Trophonius was a son of Erginus. According to the Homeric Hymn to Apollo, he built Apollo’s temple at the oracle at Delphi with his brother, Agamedes. Once finished, the oracle told the brothers to do whatsoever they wished for six days and, on the seventh, their greatest wish would be granted. They did and were found dead on the seventh day. The saying “those whom the gods love die young” comes from this story."

    • 7 months ago
  • squarethecircle
  • artemis6
  • Argon18
  • JanforGore
  • JanforGore
  • EthicalVegan
  • jackhole
  • pjacobs51
  • JanforGore
    • +7
      JanforGore  

    • http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2011/11/09/symphony-of-science-on...

      Symphony of Science: Onward To The Edge.

      "A new Symphony of Science has come out today, in honor of Carl Sagan’s birthday. And I’m pleased to see it features three people I call friends: Neil Tyson, Brian Cox, and Carolyn Porco. Isn’t that wonderful? Symphony of Science is the work of musician John Boswell, who takes the words of scientists and creates these lovely videos. You should watch them all."
      ~~~~
      I love this series. (There are two others in this thread.) If I were a science teacher I would show every one of them to my students. We need to open more minds to science to open up the answers to all of the questions as to why we are here.

    • 7 months ago
  • nanac
  • artemis6
  • queenofit
  • JanforGore
    • +2
      JanforGore  
    • queenofit:

      I really recommend watching all of these, they are all beautiful. And you know, I was brought up going to church and now consider myself more spiritual, and the power and majesty of the universe has always fascinated me and motivated me to learn more about it. I could never understand those who caused and still cause such a war and division between those who believe in a higher power and those who study science. To me, science is the study of all that is divine about the cosmos and our existence as we have evolved. I really think that if we get rid of these divisions once and for all, we may well find the answers to the questions of life. Perhaps that is part of the Mayan prophecy of a new consciousness. I don't know, but I do know that Carl Sagan was a man of that consciousness.

    • 7 months ago
  • JanforGore
    • +5
      JanforGore  

    • This is Carl Sagan's next to last interview with Charlie Rose. There are two other parts. Here he talks about science illiteracy amongst the people and religion.

    • 7 months ago
  • HarukoHaruhara
  • JanforGore
    • +5
      JanforGore  

    • http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/09/8722865-the-spirit-of-carl-sagan...
      By Alan Boyle
      It was 77 years ago today that astronomer Carl Sagan was born, and 15 years ago that he passed away after a long struggle with bone marrow disease. For a while, Sagan's rich legacy was commemorated on the date of his death, but in recent years, his fans have wisely focused on his birthdate instead. In celebration of his life, Saganites are screening episodes of his well-known TV documentary series, "Cosmos" ... planning parties with cosmic speakers ... and making apple pies from scratch. (First step: Invent the universe).

      If anything, the astronomer's legacy has grown in recent years, as a new generation gets in touch with his easy way of communicating scientific perspectives to the public as well as his deep spirituality. Spirituality? That may come as a surprise to some, who view Sagan as a sharp-edged critic of religion in a "Demon-Haunted World." But his meditation on our "Pale Blue Dot" could well rank as one of the most spiritual essays of the 20th century. To find out more of that side of Sagan's legacy, check out "The Varieties of Scientific Experience," a book based on a series of talks he gave in 1985.

      There'll be more for Saganites to cheer in the years ahead: A new version of "Cosmos" is being readied for prime-time TV in 2013, with astronomer Neil deGrasse Tyson as host. Back in August, Tyson told me that he would bring his own style to the new show while preserving the Sagan spirit. "What people remember the most about 'Cosmos,' and what it did best, and what I don't think has been duplicated, is the effort to convey the meaning of science to a citizen of planet Earth," Tyson said. "'Cosmos' brought science to the public in a way that meant something to their relationship to each other, to the world and to the universe."
      ___________
      Cosmos returns! I watched it on PBS and my son was fascinated as a baby watching it. I think it was Carl's voice that soothed him. I do hope his spirit remains in this new version which I am looking forward to watching!

    • 7 months ago
  • noxidereus
    • +1
      noxidereus  
    • JanforGore:

      A while back when I was in a deep depression and going through divorce I had insomnia. I would play Cosmos and listen to Carl Sagan's voice through my stereo with the TV off and that (along with some cannabis) soothed me and allowed me to go to sleep. Otherwise I would toss and turn in anguish all night. Sagan's voice was very soothing indeed.

    • 7 months ago
  • JanforGore
  • JanforGore
  • Jake_Leonard
    • +4
      Jake_Leonard  
    • JanforGore:

      If I were tasked with the saving of but a handful of videos across the entire internet, this would be one of them. Thank you for posting this. Never ceases to be moving, and never ceases to be relevant.

    • 7 months ago
  • JanforGore
  • JanforGore
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