Carl Sagan on Extraterrestrials

"A literal reading of the Bible simply is a mistake; I mean it’s just wrong" - Carl Sagan on October 4, 1985, as told to Studs Terkel.

Hear more interview outtakes and learn more about Carl Sagan

The incomprehensible vastness of the universe, the wonder of our own place in it all… Carl Sagan was able to explain the science of space in a way everyone could understand.

Among his long list of roles and accomplishments, the Cornell professor and NASA advisor is possibly best known for the 13-part television series, Cosmos, which reached millions of people worldwide and sealed his place as celebrity scientist. Maybe he was teased a bit for his tendency to say “billions”, a lot.

But Carl Sagan had this amazing talent for explaining the scientific wonders of the universe without losing the wonder. When he spoke about the science of space, he captured imaginations and held people in thrall.

As part of our special series, The Experimenters -- we’re uncovering interviews with the icons of science, technology, and innovation -- we found this conversation between Studs Terkel and Carl Sagan in the WFMT Studs Terkel Radio Archive. Following “Contact,” the book he wrote with wife Ann Druyan - and the major motion picture that followed it -- Carl Sagan spoke with Studs all about our continuing search for intelligent life out there, including how, for a long time, Hollywood just got it wrong. Here’s the tape.

Support for this series comes from PRX and The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

Subscribe for new episodes of Blank on Blank every other Tuesday... it's free:

Executive Producer David Gerlach
Director Kirill Yeretsky
Series Producer Amy Drozdowska

Watch More

Sally Ride on Dumb Questions

Buckminster Fuller on The Geodesic Life

Temple Grandin on Her Search Engine

Frank Lloyd Wright on Arrogance

Kurt Vonnegut on Man-Eating Lampreys

MUSIC
Jahzzar
"Ingravity"
"Part IX"
Chris Zabriskie
"CGI Snake"
"God Be With You Till We Meet Again"

[LushDepths]

I could listen to Carl Sagan talk for hours.

[rogue-taxidermy_griffin]

I'm always proud to say that Carl Sagan graduated from my high school (Rahway High School). It amazes me that such a profound person walked some of the same halls I do.

[generoberts]

Carl Sagan's demeanor and approach is so out of this world intelligent yet simple and humble in a way that everyone could understand or relate. That's what makes him so special.

[lakecountynaturalist]

I carried a copy of Cosmos with me everywhere in high school. I'd sneak a passage or two in between classes. A genuine inspiration who would never talk down to you. Miss you like crazy, Carl. ❤🌌

[xaenon]

Such an amazing intellect, so eloquently spoken. You are deeply missed, Carl.

[elma]

Carl Sagan brought science into our homes and living rooms. He stirred our imaginations and our thirst for knowledge. I know so many people who went into the sciences because of his program, "The Cosmos." There should be a constellation named for him.

[ashleyklug]

i love carl sagan. he was such a dreamer and so intelligent!

[fjoa]

you can get that man's deep and intense intelligence just by listening to his voice.

[Kennisiou]

HAhaha, it starts with Carl Sagan's trademarked "nyuuumans" Wonderful.

[benjaminallen]

Loving the increase in video's and the quality is great as usual. Keep it up!

[suziperret]

Oh how I miss Carl Sagan. Gone but never forgotten, Carl. Thank you for your spark of incite into astronomy and science. It is so inspiring...I love looking up at the Universe. You made me want to know where we come from, where we are now, and what the future has in store. What I found out is that exploding stars give birth to new life. I love you Carl Sagan.

[PogieJoe]

The style of this one was particularly fitting! Beautiful work, all!

[Wonderful_Productions]

It just so happen I got to pick him for an astronomy project, the same day this video was released, this gets me more excited to work on this project now. Thank you for showing this!

[hovienko]

the art in this particular video is absolutely beautiful.

[BoundMusic]

Thank you so much for this. I honestly didn't know who Carl Sagan was and your video brought me to further research. What I found is knowledge, and I can't thank you enough. I can only hope that your other viewers do the same about this and every other video you post. There are some serious mind bending personalities on here

[amansingh-ljtg]

Carl Sagan's voice is so deep and soothing!

[Amedeus]

...so nice hearing Sagan voice again...we all miss you Carl.

[hughcenterville]

The audio portion was pretty good but the visual was mind-blowingly good.

[justgivemethetruth]

I still miss Carl Sagan, he was one of my favorite heroes.

[mondoenterprises]

Dude just sliced and diced thru so many millions of people's belief systems in minutes using logic and reason and science and scientific data.