History Series / Cosmos

* RecursiveReality: Tyson suggests that inside each black hole is a whole universe, which in turn has black holes of its own, with universes inside them. The segment displays a little bit of RealityEnsues: after travelling through kaleidoscopic parallel universes, Tyson ends up in a random parking lot, insinuating that life goes on for everything.

** In the fourth episode, while discussing the crackpot theories of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immanuel_Velikovsky Immanuel Velikovsky]][[note]]For the uninitiated, Velikovsky claimed in his book ''Worlds in Collision'' that Venus was originally ejected from Jupiter somewhere around 2000 BCE and subsequently made repeated close encounters with the Earth-Moon system, resulting in many of the strange events described in Literature/TheBible, before finally settling into its current stable orbit around the Sun. Needless to say, these claims are almost certainly wrong for a multitude of reasons - among them, the distances involved making the chance of a near-collision between the two planets virtually zero, the vastly different chemical compositions of Venus and Jupiter, the lack of any energy source in Jupiter to eject planets, the unlikelihood of a rogue celestial body stopping and then restarting Earth's rotation, Babylonian star charts showing Venus in its present stable orbit 1,000 years before Velikovsky claims it was formed, ''et cetera''.[[/note]], Sagan states that the worst aspect of the whole affair wasn't that Velikovsky's theories were wrong or in gross contradiction to established facts, but rather that some scientists attempted to outright suppress his ideas instead of engaging in proper debate.

'''''Cosmos: A Personal Voyage''''' is an educational television series written and narrated by astronomer and writer Creator/CarlSagan, first released by Creator/{{PBS}} in 1980, and was also published in book form. It is best known for its presentation of a wide variety of scientific topics -- astronomy, physics, biology, evolution, environmentalism, nuclear power, and more -- in LaymansTerms, making both the wonder and the terminology accessible to the public. It also had cutting edge special effects for the time it was produced and also crossed over into science fiction by having Sagan explore remote corners of time and space via a "Spaceship of the Imagination". As such, it was one of the first science-documentary series to receive serious coverage by science fiction entertainment publications such as ''Starlog''.

'''''Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey''''' aired on Creator/{{FOX}} network 34 years later as both a remake and an update. Written by Sagan's widow Ann Druyan, with UsefulNotes/NeilDeGrasseTyson as host, viewers were once again taken on a journey through the wonders of the Cosmos. It used many parts from the original series which still held up and showcased many things which had come about since the original show's airing, also branching off in other directions.

'''''Cosmos: Possible Worlds''''' is a continuation of ''Spacetime Odyssey'' from the same creators, first airing in 2020 on Creator/NationalGeographicChannel and then later on FOX.

* BuffySpeak: Very occasionally. "These plants use carbohydrates to go about their...planty business." And of course the famous "star stuff".

--> '''Sagan''': In fact, if we slowly increase our speed to the speed of light, we can traverse our entire galaxy in 56 years. But we'd come back to find the earth burnt to a cinder and the sun long dead.

* EruditeStoner: Sagan was an enthusiastic marijuana smoker and makes a reference to it in Episode 9, when describing the restoration of gravity upon removing it and its effects on tea and people in ''Literature/AliceInWonderland'': "I've been to a couple of parties like that myself!"

** In the fourth episode, while discussing the crackpot theories of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immanuel_Velikovsky Immanuel Velikovsky]], Sagan states that the worst aspect of the whole affair wasn't that Velikovsky's theories were wrong or in gross contradiction to established facts, but rather that some scientists attempted to outright supress his ideas instead of engaging in proper debate.

* ReReleaseSoundtrack: The DVD release of ''Cosmos'' was unable to reacquire music rights for some pieces of music, such as works by Music/RalphVaughanWilliams and Music/JeanMichelJarre, so they were replaced with new compositions by Vangelis.

* NeoclassicalPunkZydecoRockabilly: The original series had an eclectic soundtrack incorporating classical music, world music and 1970s electronica.

* ReReleaseSoundtrack: Because Sagan was the head of the committee to select music for the Voyager Golden Record, several of the tracks chosen for the record appear in ''Cosmos''. The DVD release was unable to reacquire music rights for some pieces, such as Music/{{Jean Michel Jarre}}'s ''Equinoxe'', so they were replaced with new compositions by Vangelis.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: Talking about the 43 female Heike survivors, Sagan says that they got by by selling "flowers and... other favors"

** Averted in the seventh episode, "The Search for Intelligent Life on Earth" which shows that trees, bees, and tardigrades each possess traits that humans like to think are unique to them. Trees have knowledge of chemistry and entomology, bees have politics, language, and a great understanding of mathematics, and tardigrades show affection for each other in the form of snuggling.

** Averted in the second episode, "The Fleeting Grace of the Habitable Zone" where Tyson looks at various traits that humans believe make us special (making art, using tools, having complex social structures, etc.) and then shows various animals that can do them too. Tyson concludes that the only trait unique to humans is our "neurotic need to feel special."
** This trope is averted again in the seventh episode, "The Search for Intelligent Life on Earth" which shows that trees, bees, and tardigrades each possess traits that humans like to think are unique to them. Trees have knowledge of chemistry and entomology, bees have politics, language, and a great understanding of mathematics, and tardigrades show affection for each other in the form of snuggling.

* DescendedCreator: Creator/SethMacFarlane voiced UsefulNotes/HarrySTruman in episode 4, "Vavilov".

* TooDumbToLive: In episode 10, Tyson gives a vivid account on the 1902 eruption of Mount Pelée in Martinique, the biggest in modern history. While there was plenty of warning of an impending eruption, the people of the city of Saint-Pierre mostly stayed behind, some because they couldn't afford to evacuate, others because they thought the lava wouldn't reach the city. Plus the mayor was about to be inaugurated, and those making preparations didn't feel there was a need to postpone it. When the eruption came, it was sudden and devastating; instead of a lava flow, a huge blast of ash and deadly gasses buried the city within minutes. The city was utterly destroyed and all its inhabitants killed saved for two. (one, Louis-Auguste Cyparis, survived by being imprisoned in a dungeon, but was left badly burned.)

** Averted in the second episode, "The Fleeting Grace of the Habitable Zone" where Tyson looks at various traits that humans believe make us special (making art, using tools, having complex social structures, etc) and then shows various animals that can do them too. Tyson concludes that the only trait unique to humans is our "neurotic need to feel special."

* HumansAreSpecial: Averted in the second episode, "The Fleeting Grace of the Habitable Zone" where Tyson looks at various traits that humans believe make us special (making art, using tools, having complex social structures, etc) and then shows various animals that can do them too. Tyson concludes that the only trait unique to humans is our "neurotic need to feel special."

* HeroicSacrifice: The scientists in episode 4 "Vavilov" who starved to death during the Leningrad Siege [[note]] Which lasted from September 8, 1941 to January 27, 1944 [[/note]] protecting the seeds of the Pavlovsk seed bank for future generations.

* FirstContact: The subject of episode 7, "The Search for Intelligent Life on Earth". Tyson notes that there is much concern over making contact with an advanced alien civilization, pointing out how interactions between humans of different TechnologicalLevels often resulted in genocide; he also argues that humans have already made contact with an alien intelligence: bees, whose complex communication system has been deciphered by scientitsts. [[spoiler:The episode ends with a hypothetical contact scenario, with a radio telescope picking up signals identical to the dancing patterns of bees.]]

'''''Cosmos: A Personal Voyage''''' is an educational television series written and narrated by astronomer and writer Creator/CarlSagan, first released by Creator/PBS in 1980, and was also published in book form. It is best known for its presentation of a wide variety of scientific topics -- astronomy, physics, biology, evolution, environmentalism, nuclear power, and more -- in LaymansTerms, making both the wonder and the terminology accessible to the public. It also had cutting edge special effects for the time it was produced and also crossed over into science fiction by having Sagan explore remote corners of time and space via a "Spaceship of the Imagination". As such, it was one of the first science-documentary series to receive serious coverage by science fiction entertainment publications such as ''Starlog''.

'''''Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey''''' aired on Creator/FOX network 34 years later as both a remake and an update. Written by Sagan's widow Ann Druyan, with UsefulNotes/NeilDeGrasseTyson as host, viewers were once again taken on a journey through the wonders of the Cosmos. It used many parts from the original series which still held up and showcased many things which had come about since the original show's airing, also branching off in other directions.

'''''Cosmos: A Personal Voyage''''' is an educational television series written and narrated by astronomer and writer Creator/CarlSagan in 1980, and was also published in book form. It is best known for its presentation of a wide variety of scientific topics -- astronomy, physics, biology, evolution, environmentalism, nuclear power, and more -- in LaymansTerms, making both the wonder and the terminology accessible to the public. It also had cutting edge special effects for the time it was produced and also crossed over into science fiction by having Sagan explore remote corners of time and space via a "Spaceship of the Imagination". As such, it was one of the first science-documentary series to receive serious coverage by science fiction entertainment publications such as ''Starlog''.

'''''Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey''''' aired on FOX network 34 years later as both a remake and an update. Written by Sagan's widow Ann Druyan, with UsefulNotes/NeilDeGrasseTyson as host, viewers were once again taken on a journey through the wonders of the Cosmos. It used many parts from the original series which still held up and showcased many things which had come about since the original show's airing, also branching off in other directions.

Tropes specific to both are listed under the original ''Cosmos'', and tropes specific to the 2014 remake are in a folder afterwards.

* NeoclassicalPunkZydecoRockabilly: The original series had an eclectic soundtrack incorporating classical music, world music and 1970s electronica. Because Sagan was the head of the committee to select music for the Voyager Golden Record, several of the tracks chosen for the record appear in ''Cosmos''. The DVD release was unable to reacquire music rights for some pieces, such as Music/{{Jean Michel Jarre}}'s ''Equinoxe'', so they were [[HomeVersionSoundtrackReplacement replaced]] with new compositions by Vangelis.

** Sir Kenneth Clarke set the standard for this type of documentary mini-series with his series ''Civilisation: A Personal View'', and Sagan tips his hat by subtitling ''Cosmos'' with "A Personal Voyage."

* CallToAdventure: When a scientific concept has not been proven yet, Tyson asks the audience whom among them will solve the problem.