81 years ago Carl Sagan was born, the man who spread science disguised as entertainment

If there is one fact that can be said about humanity, it is its diversity. If the world is full of examples of how destructive, violent and ignorant human beings can be, there is always a portion of people who transcend the grotesque of existence to inspire us with their lessons and keep alive the hopes that our species can one day achieve its potential for balance and justice.

Carl Sagan was certainly one of those people. considered the greatest scientific popularizer of the XNUMXth century (maybe the greatest of all time), Sagan has seduced generations with his simple explanations in which he revealed the discoveries of science, enchanting the layman to the most experts. His research into the solar system and his search for extraterrestrial life and intelligence made him the most famous astronomer in the world.

In addition to inspiring a whole generation of science lovers, Carl Sagan he also adopted a poetic and philosophical tone in the subjects he discussed, making his reflections both beautiful and endowed with elements capable of awakening a humanist conscience in people. His mastery of words and his relentless oratory, moved from the youngest to the oldest.

Author of more than 600 scientific publications quality more than 20 science books and Science fiction, Sagan is primarily known for the series Cosmos, broadcast on TV during the 1980s. In addition to the series, Cosmos was also released in a book, which this year completed 35 years of its publication (read our article about 35 years of Cosmos).

Carl Sagan spent his childhood watching the stars and his adult life studying them at his research center in NASA. were almost 40 years dedicated to research and scientific dissemination, which began in 1960, when the astronomer completed his doctorate in astronomy and astrophysics. To the misfortune of the human species, Sagan mdied on September 20, 1996 at the age of 62, from pneumonia, after a two-year battle with a rare and serious illness in bone marrow (myelodysplasia).

If I were alive, I would complete it today (November 09, 2015) 81 years. However, individuals like Carl Sagan remain alive in the legacy they leave in their works. Our tribute to the man who shaped dreams of exploring the mysteries of the universe ends with a quote from Sagan himself. "Each of us is, from a cosmic perspective, precious. If a human disagrees with you, let him live. In a hundred billion galaxies, you won't find another".