Remembering Carl Sagan on the anniversary of his death

[Maxmars]

The year was 1996, on December 20th when we were told of the death of Carl Sagan, astrobiologist and astronomer of world renown.

He supported the 'search' for extraterrestrial intelligence.  He was a best-selling author, receiving the Pulitzer prize for "The Dragons of Eden."

I would rather appreciate his countless contributions, and regrettable abuse by establishment authorities trying to curtail his public works...

Many of you will know his story, and what he offered the world as knowledge... I will leave it to you all to bring up those things which speak to you about his life.
 

[quintessentone]

I've always had a place in my heart for his philosophical approach found in his many quotes, especially pointing out the truth that we have only one home and that we should take care of it and each other.
 

"Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves."

https://www.newsweek.com/arl-sagan-quote...rs-1661545

[Karl12]

Lots to be said in other fields about Carl but reckon this is the most 'human-centric' thing he ever said (very apt).

• "Imagine a room awash in gasoline. And there are two implacable enemies in that room. One of them has 9,000 matches. The other has 7,000 matches. Each of them is concerned about who's ahead, who's stronger. Well, that's the kind of situation we are actually in."

Carl Sagan, ABC News Viewpoint, "The Day After," November 20th, 1983.

I know it's Christmas but there's also this rather mind-blowing video which in some way is quite positive.

Are there any serious, rational men left lol?

[sahgwa]

Billions and billions.

Super smart, and showed us what a true thinker and scientist is.

Not one to belittle others, or use Science like a stupid club of a religion, like so many today, but a scientist who celebrated NOT KNOWING and DISCOVERY, not dogmatism.