Carl Sagan (1934-1996) was a renowned cosmic storyteller who made the universe cool. An astronomer, astrophysicist, and all-around science superstar, he had a knack for explaining mind-blowing concepts in ways anyone could understand. Born in Brooklyn, Sagan grew up stargazing and turned that wonder into a career exploring the cosmos.
He helped send messages to aliens (just in case), worked on NASA missions like Voyager, and dreamed up the golden record—a mixtape of Earth sounds for any extraterrestrial listeners. His TV series Cosmos turned millions into space geeks, while his books, like Pale Blue Dot, made us rethink our place in the universe.
With his iconic phrases like “billions upon billions” and his boundless curiosity, Sagan was a champion of science, skepticism, and the sheer joy of wondering what’s out there. He left us all with a little more awe for the stars.