Carl Sagan

Carl Sagan

Carl Sagan’s Life and Legacy

Carl Edward Sagan was the most popular scientist as well as an astronomer in the United States of America in 1980’s – 1990’s. He was born on November 9, 1934, in Brooklyn, New York and died on December 20, 1996, of Pneumonia at the age of 62. Carl was married three times. Because of his passion for his career, his marriage life did not succeed, until he met his third wife, Ann Druyan, an author. They remained married till he died.

He had a great interest in studying the heavenly bodies at the early age of five. His interest continued even when he entered high school. He conducted several experiments, which led him to be attracted by the possibility of having life in the different world or alien life when he was still in school. He finished his bachelor of arts in 1954 with general and special honors, his Bachelor of Science in 1955 and Master of Science in Physics in 1956.

He preceded his Ph.D. studies and became a professor in one of the Universities in New York. Carl was not just an astronomer and a great scientist; he was once a teacher, an author, and editor of many popular science books. One of his popular books written and became a TV series was entitled Cosmos, one of the most-watched shows in television history. He shared his knowledge with people of what he had known through writing and hosting.

He was a great science communicator as he impressively shared his ideas, which made people easily comprehend the cosmos and the worth of the human race, and the relative insignificance of the Earth in comparison to the universe.

Carl had lots of achievements, scientific ideas and contributions to science. He conducted his first major research and investigation to planet Venus. He was the one who believed that planet Venus has the high temperature on its surface.

He also studied the variation of colors of planet Mars and its surface. He concluded that changes were not due to seasonal or vegetation alterations as widely believed but was the effect of shifts in surface dust caused by the wind storms.

He also did a study in organic aerosols on Titan, Saturn’s moon; the long-term environmental effects of nuclear war; and the origin of life on Earth.He also perceived that the Earth will be likened to planet Venus due to its hot, life-hostile environment through the green house effect.  Carl became famous for his studies and extensive researches on his theories and records confirming the existence of extraterrestrial life and became the advocate of scientific communities working on ET (Extraterrestrial).

Because of his great achievements and contributions to science, he had won awards and honors all through his life. He said that with his sense of wonder and with the encouragement of his parents made him pursue his unusual interests and led him to his choice of work.