Carl Edward Sagan November 9, 1934 – December 20, 1996) was an American astronomer, planetary scientist, and science communicator. His best-known scientific contribution is his research on the possibility of extraterrestrial life, including experimental demonstration of the production of amino acids from basic chemicals by exposure to light. He assembled the first physical messages sent into space, the Pioneer plaque and the Voyager Golden Record, which were universal messages that could potentially be understood by any extraterrestrial intelligence that might find them. He argued in favor of the hypothesis, which has since been accepted, that the high surface temperatures of Venus are the result of the greenhouse effect.
Books in order of publication:
Cosmic Connection: An Extraterrestrial Perspective – 1973
The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence – 1977
Broca’s Brain: Reflections on the Romance of Science – 1997
Cosmos – 1980
Contact – 1985
Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors – 1992
Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space – 1994
The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark – 1995
Billions & Billions: Thoughts on Life and Death at the Brink of the Millennium – 1997
Oak Lawn Library Friends 