Broca's Brain. About Science, Space, and Humanity

The book "Broca's Brain" – a deep and poetic narrative by an outstanding astronomer and astrophysicist about the romance and responsibility, risks and prospects of science.

What place does it occupy in the life of humanity and how does it differ from pseudoscience? Where do the myths about Atlantis, the Bermuda Triangle, ancient astronauts, and emotions in plants come from, and why is it important to debunk them? Which planets and moons of the solar system could be suitable for colonization, how did life originate, and where in the distant cosmos could it still be possible? How are planets and galaxies named, and what mistakes have great scientists made over the years in the pursuit of truth? How can science explain near-death experiences, and how might this be related to the experience of birth? How does religion relate to science? What is the future of artificial intelligence and space exploration?

All these reflections were prompted in Carl Sagan by a visit to the Paris Museum of Mankind. In particular, he was struck by the collection of Paul Broca, which includes the brain of Broca himself – the great anthropologist, especially famous for discovering the area in the human brain responsible for articulate speech.

Despite the grandeur and informativeness of the book, the author's skill and the unique tone characteristic of Sagan make it accessible and enjoyable for the broadest readership.