Cosmos
Test your knowledge with 45 questions across 3 challenge tiers
Master These Concepts
Review these key terms before taking the quiz
Cosmos
The universe viewed as a complex and orderly system – the opposite of chaos
Sagan uses cosmos to emphasize that the universe is comprehensible through science
Cosmic Calendar
A method of visualizing the age of the universe by compressing it into a single year
On the Cosmic Calendar all of recorded human history occurs in the last few seconds of December 31
Pale Blue Dot
The famous photograph of Earth from Voyager 1 showing our planet as a tiny speck
Sagan used this image to emphasize human insignificance and the need to cherish our planet
Star Stuff
The idea that humans and all life are literally made of atoms forged in ancient stars
We are star stuff contemplating the stars – our atoms were created in stellar nuclear fusion
Billions and Billions
The phrase associated with Sagan representing the vast numbers in astronomy
Though Sagan rarely said this exact phrase it captures his emphasis on cosmic scale
SETI
The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence using radio telescopes to listen for signals
Sagan was a strong advocate for scientific searches for intelligent life beyond Earth
Select a Quiz Tier
Complete each tier to unlock the next and earn your badges.
Fundamentals
TIER 1 • READER BADGE
Deep Dive
TIER 2 • SCHOLAR BADGE
Expert
TIER 3 • MASTER BADGE
