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[[File:Carl Sagan.JPG|thumbnail|250px|right|Carl Sagan ]]

[[File:Carl Sagan.JPG|thumbnail|250px|right|Carl Sagan]]

'''Carl Sagan''' (1934-1996) was a [[liberal]] professor of [[astronomy]] at [[Cornell University]] in Ithaca, New York, who became a celebrity on television and a vocal advocate for increased searches for intelligent life in outer space. ''Time'' magazine reported that Carl Sagan "talked with [[Jimmy Carter]] about such esoteric matters as [[black hole]]s and [[exobiology]] (the speculation that [[extraterrestrial life]] exist)."<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,951539,00.html Frederic Golden, "The Cosmic Explainer," Time.com 20 Oct. 1980.]</ref> He was instrumental in the development of Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence ([[SETI]]).  

'''Carl Sagan''' (1934–1996) was a [[liberal]] professor of [[astronomy]] at [[Cornell University]] in Ithaca, New York, who became a celebrity on television and a vocal advocate for increased searches for intelligent life in outer space. ''Time'' magazine reported that Carl Sagan "talked with [[Jimmy Carter]] about such esoteric matters as [[black hole]]s and [[exobiology]] (the speculation that [[extraterrestrial life]] exist)."<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,951539,00.html Frederic Golden, "The Cosmic Explainer," Time.com 20 Oct. 1980.]</ref> He was instrumental in the development of Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence ([[SETI]]).  

Carl Sagan was also an avid [[marijuana]] smoker who claimed marijuana gave him [[scientific]] insights.<ref>http://cosmologytalk.tribe.net/thread/7e25b81c-2529-44c6-b388-f926c2475e6a</ref>  

Carl Sagan was also an avid [[marijuana]] smoker who claimed marijuana gave him [[scientific]] insights.<ref>http://cosmologytalk.tribe.net/thread/7e25b81c-2529-44c6-b388-f926c2475e6a</ref>  

{{cquote|By “nature worship” and “neo-paganism” I refer to the atheist’s tendency to replace a sense of awe of God and seeking transcendence by relating to God with seeking awe and transcendence in nature. This natural high, as it were, is not merely enjoyed but it is enjoined and said to be holier than theism.

{{cquote|By “nature worship” and “neo-paganism” I refer to the atheist’s tendency to replace a sense of awe of God and seeking transcendence by relating to God with seeking awe and transcendence in nature. This natural high, as it were, is not merely enjoyed but it is enjoined and said to be holier than theism.

Referring to our ability to “step off the Earth and look back at ourselves,” as was done in Voyager 2, [[Carl Sagan]] stated,

Referring to our ability to “step off the Earth and look back at ourselves,” as was done in Voyager 2, Carl Sagan stated,

“I find that a chilling, spine-tingling, exciting, perspective-raising, consciousness-raising experience. It’s said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience.”7  

“I find that a chilling, spine-tingling, exciting, perspective-raising, consciousness-raising experience. It’s said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience.”7  

Sagan also concluded that the variations in color of Mars' surface were not due to seasonal or vegetational effects, but rather were caused by shifts in surface dust caused by windstorms. This was later confirmed by other scientists and subsequent missions to Mars.

Sagan also concluded that the variations in color of Mars' surface were not due to seasonal or vegetational effects, but rather were caused by shifts in surface dust caused by windstorms. This was later confirmed by other scientists and subsequent missions to Mars.

He also received the 1994 Public Welfare Medal from the National Academy of Sciences for "Distinguished contributions in the application of science to the public welfare"<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.planetary.org/about/founders/carl_sagan.html | title=Carl Sagan | publisher=The Planetary Society | author=The Planetary Society| accessdate=May 14, 2007}}</ref>. The Public Welfare Medal is the highest honor given by the National Academy of Sciences.

He also received the 1994 Public Welfare Medal from the National Academy of Sciences for "Distinguished contributions in the application of science to the public welfare".<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.planetary.org/about/founders/carl_sagan.html | title=Carl Sagan | publisher=The Planetary Society | author=The Planetary Society| accessdate=May 14, 2007}}</ref> The Public Welfare Medal is the highest honor given by the National Academy of Sciences.

Sagan was a main advocate for the scientific theory of [[evolution]]. In addition, as noted earlier, Sagan advocated government-funded exobiology research.

Sagan was a main advocate for the scientific theory of [[evolution]]. In addition, as noted earlier, Sagan advocated government-funded exobiology research.

"Though Dr. Sagan is one of the most frequently cited experts on atmospheric issues by the media, his predictions are often wrong. For example, at the outset of the Persian Gulf War, Sagan warned that if [[Saddam Hussein]] delivered on his threat to set fire to Kuwait's oil wells, so much black soot would be sent into the stratosphere that sunlight would be blocked and a variation of the "[[nuclear winter]]" scenario would occur. Hussein followed through on his threat, and by the close of the war over 600 wells were on fire. But the fires had little environmental or climatic effect beyond the Gulf region and virtually no ill effects globally."<ref>http://www.nationalcenter.org/dos7124.htm</ref></blockquote>

"Though Dr. Sagan is one of the most frequently cited experts on atmospheric issues by the media, his predictions are often wrong. For example, at the outset of the Persian Gulf War, Sagan warned that if [[Saddam Hussein]] delivered on his threat to set fire to Kuwait's oil wells, so much black soot would be sent into the stratosphere that sunlight would be blocked and a variation of the "[[nuclear winter]]" scenario would occur. Hussein followed through on his threat, and by the close of the war over 600 wells were on fire. But the fires had little environmental or climatic effect beyond the Gulf region and virtually no ill effects globally."<ref>http://www.nationalcenter.org/dos7124.htm</ref></blockquote>

[[Fred Singer]] famously rebutted Sagan's prediction on national TV and was vindicated a few days later, when Sagan's nuclear winter scenario failed to materialize.<ref>"Retired atmospheric physicist Fred Singer dismissed Sagan's prediction as nonsense, predicting ['''correctly'''] that the smoke would dissipate in a matter of days." [http://www.crystalinks.com/sagan.html] </ref>

[[Fred Singer]] famously rebutted Sagan's prediction on national TV and was vindicated a few days later, when Sagan's nuclear winter scenario failed to materialize.<ref>"Retired atmospheric physicist Fred Singer dismissed Sagan's prediction as nonsense, predicting ['''correctly'''] that the smoke would dissipate in a matter of days." [http://www.crystalinks.com/sagan.html]</ref>

Later, Sagan would admit he was wrong, noting: "it was pitch black at noon and temperatures dropped 4°–6°C over the Persian Gulf, but not much smoke reached stratospheric altitudes and Asia was spared."<ref>Sagan, Carl (1996). The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark. New York: Random House. p. 257. ISBN 0-394-53512-X.</ref>

Later, Sagan would admit he was wrong, noting: "it was pitch black at noon and temperatures dropped 4°–6°C over the Persian Gulf, but not much smoke reached stratospheric altitudes and Asia was spared."<ref>Sagan, Carl (1996). The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark. New York: Random House. p. 257. ISBN 0-394-53512-X.</ref>