Search the Fresh Air Archive

Close Search

Remembering Scientist Carl Sagan

Astronomer and Pulitzer Prize winner Carl Sagan died today at the age of 62. A spokesman for the Cancer Research Center says Sagan died from pneumonia after suffering from bone marrow disease for two years. Sagan won the Pulitzer in 1978 for his book "Dragons of Eden" and was the author of several other best-selling books on space and the universe including: "Intelligent Life in the Universe," "Mars and the Mind of Man," "Other Worlds." He was a professor at Cornell University, the Director of the Laboratory for Planetary Studies, and a pioneer in the field of exobiology, the branch of biology investigating the possibility of extraterrestrial life. In 1980, his PBS show "Cosmos" became the most-watched limited series in the history of American public television.

08:18
Queue

Guest

Host

Related Topics

Other segments from the episode on December 20, 1996

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, December 20, 1996: Interview with Catherine Deneuve; Review of the film "Shine"; Interview with John Lithgow; Obituary for Carl Sagan.
Queue
21:20

French Actress Catherine Deneuve

Deneuve talks about her movie "Les Voleures" (Thieves). The film opens on Christmas Day in New York and Los Angeles and will hit selected theaters around the nation early next year. Some of her best known films include: "Belle De Jour," "Repulsion," "Indochine," and "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg."

Interview
Queue
14:18

Actor John Lithgow on His Success in Film

Lithgow's known for his role as Dick Solomon on NBC's comedy series show, "Third Rock From the Sun." He's a two-time former Oscar nominee and has recently earned an Emmy nomination for his role in the show. Lithgow has appeared in a number of movies, including, "The World According to Garp," "Terms of Endearment," Memphis Belle," and "Footloose." Lithgow graduated from Harvard and won a Fulbright Scholarship which he used to study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

Interview

Transcript

Transcripts currently not available.

Transcripts are created on a rush deadline, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of Fresh Air interviews and reviews are the audio recordings of each segment.

You May Also like

Queue
24:15

Carl Sagan on Preventing Nuclear Winter

The famed astronomer and writer is co-author of the new book, "A Path Where No Man Thought." It's about the theory that even a small nuclear war would lead to a nuclear winter that would devastate the earth.

Interview
Queue
30:24

Chris Mooney on 'The Republican War on Science'

In his new book The Republican War on Science, journalist Chris Mooney contends that the Bush administration has distorted research and misinformed the public on issues ranging from stem-cell research to global warming. The motivation, Mooney argues, is political power.

Interview

Did you know you can create a shareable playlist?

Learn How
Advertisement

Recently on Fresh Air Available to Play on NPR

52:30

Daughter of Warhol star looks back on a bohemian childhood in the Chelsea Hotel

Alexandra Auder's mother, Viva, was one of Andy Warhol's muses. Growing up in Warhol's orbit meant Auder's childhood was an unusual one. For several years, Viva, Auder and Auder's younger half-sister, Gaby Hoffmann, lived in the Chelsea Hotel in Manhattan. It was was famous for having been home to Leonard Cohen, Dylan Thomas, Virgil Thomson, and Bob Dylan, among others.

Queue

Related segments from the Fresh Air Archive:

43:04

This fake 'Jury Duty' really put James Marsden's improv chops on trial

In the series Jury Duty, a solar contractor named Ronald Gladden has agreed to participate in what he believes is a documentary about the experience of being a juror--but what Ronald doesn't know is that the whole thing is fake.

Queue

Related segments from the Fresh Air Archive:

08:26

This Romanian film about immigration and vanishing jobs hits close to home

R.M.N. is based on an actual 2020 event in Ditrău, Romania, where 1,800 villagers voted to expel three Sri Lankans who worked at their local bakery.

Queue

Related segments from the Fresh Air Archive:

See All Recent Segments

There are more than 22,000 Fresh Air segments.

Let us help you find exactly what you want to hear.
Just play me something
Your Queue

Would you like to make a playlist based on your queue?

Generate & Share View/Edit Your Queue