How Would We Communicate with Alien Life? - with Carl Sagan

If life exists elsewhere in the Universe, would we be able to communicate with it? In this clip from the 1977 CHRISTMAS LECTURES "The planets", Carl Sagan demonstrates how we could send a signal that would make sense to intelligent beings that have evolved independently from us.

[Batooony]

This is why Carl Sagan was so unique, he could explain complicated matters in a way that kids were able to understand, but at the same time it makes me amazed as an adult

[richardgfrench]

A student tracked this down for me - I was one of the graduate students. What this video doesn't show is that we had 48 hours to decode the message (or fail), and be recorded after the fact by the BBC, whatever the outcome. Failure was not an option, but success wasn't guaranteed - what was fun was that each grad student made a separate contribution (although I confess that I'm not sure that my insights were that profound, or that if we reassembled now we'd be able to do it again!

[ameremortal]

Carl Sagan was the biggest influence in my life. I had hope back then. Wow... How I miss this great man...

[wolvenar]

At risk of sounding like the previous comments, Mr. Sagan became one of the most influential in my life and one I hold in highest regard. I seriously miss his influence on our world.

[Novasky]

Alien 1: huh its a formaldehyde molecule
Alien 2: I think they want us to preserve their species once they are all dead.

[hyperian_one]

Living in Ithaca from 1972 until 1984 I had the distinctly awesome pleasure to listen to this gentleman lecture us a Cornell in person, numerous times.

[os]

Carl Sagan is responsible of me becoming a scientist. Profoundly in dept.

[lilbbasedgodiscool]

"Beep BEEP beep beep BEEP!" -- Carl Sagan, 1977

[alejandrobetancourt]

Those bored grade schoolers didn't know what they had in front of them.

[janeck.]

Carl Sagan = one of the greatest brains of the 20th century.

[xebatansis]

Look at all these young children getting educated on such an adult matter. It' s really nice to see.

[ricomajestic]

I could listen to Sagan speak for hours. Great speaker, story teller and lecturer!

[RCDesertRat]

We need Carl Sagan today more than ever to counter the war on science

[Eliphas_Leary]

Cheer up, folks! Carl Sagan still IS a great influence on many, and he STILL inspires a lot of people to continue his work. That's why he smiles in most pictures... ;o)

[ssabykoops]

I love how years later we see this exact example of first contact used in his book/movie Contact, .,.

[wasimskhan]

Carl Sagan was one of the most eloquent persons ever, gifted with an uncanny ability to articulate most complex ideas and deliver with such ease that a 9 year old me could understand. Love you, dear Carl.

[michellemartinez]

Carl Sagan is still a great influencer, recently i read his book "A pale blue dot" and he inspired me to study astronomy and Physics, what a Great man!

[jaideeprai]

We will always miss this amazing Soul. He not only had tremendous knowledge & an analytical mind but also the power to deliver in his mesmerising talks on the universe. It was as if he took you on a journey. God Bless his departed soul. There will never be another like him. ✊✊✊✊✊

[kjamison]

This assignment in 1977...
In 1985 Carl Sagan releases his novel, “Contact”, where an alien species sends a message which, when decoded, reveals a video image and hidden in the message is a three dimensional drawing of a device that allows one person to travel to the origin of the message as a first step in interstellar contact...
In 1996, the World loses Carl Sagan.
In 1997, Jodie Foster stars in the motion picture adaptation.

[vishalrao]

Carl Sagan is the legend which lives on for ever in our minds... Love from India