Cosmos
With Cosmos, Carl Sagan and his wife and co-writer, Ann Druyan, brilliantly illustrated the underlying science of his same-titled book, placing the human species within a space-and-time context that brought the infinite into stunningly clear view. The series, which originally aired in 1980 on PBS, has been seen by more than 700 million people worldwide and remains a high-water mark in miniseries history.
Sagan lucidly explains such topics as Einstein’s theory of relativity, Darwin’s theory of evolution, and the greenhouse effect, bringing the mysteries of the universe down to a layman’s level of understanding. The footage in these remastered, seven-DVD or seven-VHS sets is as fresh and riveting as it was two decades ago and is certain to fire the imaginations of a whole new generation of viewers. This is THE GREATEST television series ever.
Its original airing in 1979 inspired me to a love of science, learning, and freedom of inquiry that have shaped both my interests and intellectual curiosity. Of the hundreds of high-quality science doc series released in the interim, none approach the majesty and depth of this one. An elegant and artisitc enterprise for a well-organized, self-correcting way of reasoning and thinking about the universe/time we occupy. After a quarter of a century, this series is as captivating as it is an education.
Watch the full documentary now
(playlist contains all 13 episodes, each 1 hour long)
Or you can just watch them at guba.com
One of the greatest works of TV.
I first watched this series nearly 30 years ago when I was 12 years old. It still has a profound quality that gives the veiwer a sense of ‘what its all about’.
Carl Sagan always seamed at ease with everything.
Carl Sagan was my dad’s man for knowledge of the cosmos and I didn’t understand why,but now I see how he explains micro-biology to the most massive things in the universe with an elegant ease to the normal everyday 40 hr. worker.Pass your knowledge down to your children and watch your bloodline bloom.PEACE
yo vladko keep going! i’m proud of you boy;P i luv cosmic and stuff movies…maby some alex filippenko lectures ? they are wicked as well…greet’s m8
This is a great series. Carl Sagan is my hero. Wish he was still around. Thanks Vlatko!
Yes. He is my hero, also. I still miss him. he made these things attainable for eveyone. He put it in our hands and our hearts. I sign all my emails: Carl Sagan – weather is fine. WIsh you were here. So does Stephen(Hawking)
Still great after all these years. A source of enlightenment many years ago on television in Ireland and still so valid (mostly).
Sagan fans should check out the Symphony of Science videos: http://symphonyofscience.com/
I’m having trouble with first video. The play button doesn’t do anything and when I mouseover the frame none of the controls show up. Anyone have a suggestion?
Ok, all episodes are in one playlist now.
vlatko you rock!
thanks for the egypt doc recommendation, most interesting thing ive seen in ages-
cool! thanks a ton vlatko
I just recently started watching this… GREAT documentary… one of the best. I’m up to the 12th episode now.. sagan is a great narrator, and explains things in an excellent manner. Several topics i have read about for many years (relativity, planet movement) and only just now really understood due to the way sagan describes it. BTW, not all episodes work here… but if you go to hulu.com they have the entire series.
I saw this series when I was a kid… it shaped my life and I was in tears watching it again… Amazing. Carl Sagen… thanks so much. It is still so relevant too… I wish there was a new version for the coming generation. The narrativeis so non condascending, so pure… i love this. thans TopDocs. this has trully touched me.
Easily the best thing I ever saw on Nigerian TV. My Mom used to videotape Cosmos whenever it came on (I was 12 at the time). Carl Sagan was a bigger hero to me than Michael Jackson!
…and that was saying a lot for a kid. He was the reason I became a math geek and felt no shame about it then!
recently, I found a poor transfer to DVD and saw the whole series again… and again… I get a lump in the throat when I hear him say the words “billions and billions…”.
Wish we still had him with us.
i agree with all the previous comments.
What a likeable follow this Sagan chap is. He could tell me that the Earth was rhombic dodecahdron shaped and i would want to believe it.
Great visuals and dreamy commentary. Surprising how well this doc has aged.
Thank you Carl.
Tip for all fans, The special edition dvd-boxset includes 7 discs and some episodes feature “updates” in which a noticably older Carl Sagan explains how certain projections were either off or right on the money.
Cost me €25 and was totally worth it.
His novel “Contact” spawned the blockbuster of the same name as well, even his name chimes with wisdom.
@D-K
In YouTube you can find the series with the updates. But, if you find it on DVD/Blue Ray, buy it. We need to buy billions and billions of them.
Carl Sagan – You are greatly missed.
@pheldespat
I’ve bought the 7 disc special edition, best investment ever.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much my country and it’s people have contributed to astronomy/cosmology simply by being open-minded and not repressed by religion (I’m dutch).
I’ve been looking around for the book to see if it contains any info that was ommitted from the dvd’s, but judging by the amount of content on the discs, it seems unlikely. I’ll still take a copy if I come across it though.
Michio Kaku and Ray Kurzweil, while charismatic and knowledgeable in their own right, simply can’t hold a candle to Carl Sagan in terms of delivering excitement for their respective passions.
I never did much researh into Carl Sagan’s work and ideas until very recently . I did some reading and watched about 4 hours worth of this and have to say that he has exceeded expectations for me. I will continue to dig further into the knowledge presented to us from Sagan and others like him.
” Our species needs, and deserves, a citizenry with minds wide awake and a basic understanding of how the world works.” – Carl Sagan
this is great. can’t thank topdoc enough for uploading this. gotta download all the episodes. :p
The guy is great but all the stuff he’s talking about is simple and
All the stuff he’s been tlaking about in those documentaries is really simple, im surprised most people didnt know it and needed an “easy talking” guy to do it for them. People seem to be in love with this guy because of his simplicity, i tried, I REALLY did try to find him aww inspiring, but I just didnt see anything great, just a guy talking about the universe and otehr things, maybe people like his voice? Just my opinion, i dont need a reply coz i never come back and check my comments.
I’m going to watch this series based on Vlatko’s raving suggestion/review he mentioned on another docs comment section. That and it just seems like a great way to expand a 3lb lump of matter.
One of the first links on a Google query for “Carl Sagan” lead to brainy quotes. The first quote listed hints that Carl and I could be connected… Not that we all aren’t connected.
“A celibate clergy is an especially good idea, because it tends to suppress any hereditary propensity toward fanaticism. “
@michelle
Ok then, kitten , tell me the rules of Newton and its relation to Eienstein and universal law , how does that work?
Simple? Its a free course for the younger and is all about basics. Have to know where you stand , ID maybe?
Please respond to my question , for I am awating your explanations of the simple rules of mechanics , and the origins of the universe_ ..you being the one of all things physical.
I would guess there are many children of the eighties who went on to careers in science or at a minimum with a life long interest in it as a result of this masterpiece.
“I REALLY did try to find him aww inspiring, but I just didnt see anything great, just a guy talking about the universe…..”
Amazing on so many levels.
I miss him!
I used to watch this program as a kid, and have recently re
-discovered it. AWESOME! :)
The uniqueness of Carl Sagan is in making intricate problems look simple, trivial. Do not underestimate the greatness of his mind. Try explaining to your three years kid not to pour water in your laptop, and why. Then you’ll understand Sagan’s work.
Just about to rewatch this absolute classic. Thanks so much for posting this and reminding me of it. This should be required viewing for everyone capable of understanding it (and that’s most people I think, it’s very approachable).
Carl Sagan is definitely one of my heroes.