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In his last interview, Carl Sagan warned that America will be taken over by a 'charlatan' political leader

via PBS

Astronomer Carl Sagan was the original host of "Cosmos" back in 1980 and it became most watched show in public television history. Few science communicators have been able to match his talent for stoking wonder about the universe.

Shortly before his death in 1996, he appeared on "Charlie Rose" and made a dire warning about how the average Americans' lack of skeptical, scientific thinking could lead to disastrous consequences.

Today, we can see the problems that are happening due to America's anti-science streak whether it's anti-vaxxers, conspiracy theories or climate change deniers.

Sagan was right, America will suffer due to a lack a lack of scientific skepticism.

Carl Sagan and Government_ Charlie Rose.wmvwww.youtube.com

"We've arranged a society on science and technology in which nobody understands anything about science and technology, and this combustible mixture of ignorance and power sooner or later is going to blow up in our faces," he told Rose. "I mean, who is running the science and technology in a democracy if the people don't know anything about it?"

He then warned that our lack of critical thinking leaves us vulnerable to those who wish to exploit our ignorance.

"Science is more than a body of knowledge, it's a way of thinking," he says. "If we are not able to ask skeptical questions to interrogate those who tell us something is true to be skeptical of those in authority, then we're up for grabs for the next charlatan political or religious who comes ambling along."

Sagan believes that a democracy cannot function without an educated populace.

"It's a thing that Jefferson lay great stress on. It wasn't enough, he said, to enshrine some rights in the Constitution and the Bill or Rights, the people had to be educated and they have to practice their skepticism and their education," he says. "Otherwise, we don't run the government, the government runs us."

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Ruth Bader Ginsburg got blunt about sexism's role in the 2016 election.

Russia, economic anxiety, James Comey — pundits have dissected a number of factors that could have shaped the 2016 presidential election. If you ask Ruth Bader Ginsburg, though, sexism certainly shouldn't be left off that list.

The Supreme Court justice — the second woman to have ever held that title — sat down with CBS News' Charlie Rose on Sept. 26, to chat about a number of hot-button issues in American culture and politics.

When the conversation turned to the 2016 election, Rose asked if sexism played a role in the outcome. "I have no doubt that it did," Ginsburg answered to cheers.

Clinton — the first woman to represent a major political party on the ballot — won the popular vote but lost the electoral college to Trump — a man who bragged about sexually assaulting women and once suggested those who have abortions should be punished.

Ginsburg said Clinton's gender was a "major, major factor" in helping bolster Trump to victory (and studies suggest she may be right).

Clinton, then Secretary of State, greets (from left) Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, and Sonia Sotomayor in 2011. Photo by Tim Sloan/AFP/Getty Images.

To some, Clinton's loss was a devastating setback to women's equality. But Ginsburg wants us to see the bigger picture.

Women have been breaking major barriers in recent decades, Ginsburg reminded Rose — especially in Congress.

While Trump won the presidential election, history was quietly made in the Senate last year, as a record-breaking 21 women won seats in their respective states. When Ginsburg joined the Supreme Court in 1993, that figure stood at six.

"To see the entrance of women into places where they were not there before is a hopeful sign," the optimistic justice explained to Rose.

Image by Michael Calcagno/Upworthy.

Notably, there are also more women of color in the Senate than ever before. Last year's election saw Kamala Harris, Tammy Duckworth, and Catherine Cortez Masto pull off victories in California, Illinois, and Nevada — wins that quadrupled the number of female senators of color.

"I'm worried," Ginsburg noted of the current direction the country seems to be headed, "but I'm encouraged by the number of people — especially young people — who are expressing themselves in opposition, reminding us of our most basic values: our freedom."

charlie rose

In his last interview, Carl Sagan warned that America will be taken over by a 'charlatan' political leader

Ruth Bader Ginsburg got blunt about sexism's role in the 2016 election.

When the conversation turned to the 2016 election, Rose asked if sexism played a role in the outcome. "I have no doubt that it did," Ginsburg answered to cheers.

To some, Clinton's loss was a devastating setback to women's equality. But Ginsburg wants us to see the bigger picture.

Watch highlights from Rose and Ginsburg's interview below:

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