When Carl Sagan said that “we’re made of star stuff,” he wasn’t being metaphoric. He was simply noting—in his uniquely precise and poetic way—that the raw materials that constitute our physical bodies were forged in the bellies of distant, long-extinguished stars.

The photographer Ignacio Torres has made this insight visual. In his gorgeous images—presented as animated GIFs as a nod to the cosmic movement of space and time—he transforms Sagan’s world-altering perspective into something immediate and unnerving. His photographs show people bursting out of the primordial dust (really, reflective confetti) that birthed us all. He has made a beautiful theoretical insight look alluring and beautiful as well. One expects that Sagan would approve.

» View the  Star Stuff Made Real Slide Show

9 Comments

1. 1. Ungolythe 11:58 PM 9/10/12

   Perhaps Sagan would approve but the jerky gif animation takes away from the pics, at least for me. A beautifully simple, profound quote from Sagan that I remember well as a kid with a budding interest in astronomy.

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2. 2. nfiertel 09:43 PM 9/11/12

   Dr. Sagan I suggest would not be impressed by this Kindergarten level cornball nonsense. Whoever choose this dumb and boring grade 5 level garbage needs to take an art course before making such editorial decisions again. Either that or Sci Am has gone deeply below even the low level of American education as the base criterium for its publication. It embarrasses me to think that this is acceptable to this online publication.

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3. 3. Newbiz 03:50 AM 9/12/12

   Just very nice and pleasure picture all visitors www.new-biz.com.ua say that

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4. 4. doctorja 03:16 PM 9/13/12

   "Star stuff" is an evocative and educational phrase. But most people don't know, as I only recently found out, that Carl Sagan did not coin it. Harlow Shapley, the astronomer who discovered that our solar system was not in the center of the Milky Way but about halfway out, used the term in his 1963 book, _The View from a Distant Star: Man's Future in the Universe_, and may have used it prior to that.

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5. 5. Bill_Crofut 05:28 PM 9/13/12

   "Star stuff" seems to me a nonsensical phrase based on assertions which cannot be observed or tested.

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6. 6. Micmac000 11:19 PM 9/13/12

   As for the Gif presentation's quality, it goes without question that it could have been better, but please try not to shoot the messenger and focus on the message.
   
   For if you do . .you will be overwhelmed with the possibilities of the human origin. Be it from a religious perspective (all things are possible with GOD) or from a strict evolutionist/scientific point of view, we are made of the same stuff that Stars are made of.
   
   Bottom line . . .there is no argument other than on the "how" it all came about. And there I'm willing to rest and allow you to take whatever path you personally choose.
   
   I'll meet you at the vertex when all things come back to their origins of light.
   

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7. 7. dernickvw 10:27 PM 9/14/12

   Looks like someone's photo diary from Burning Man.

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8. 8. Charlie Taylor PhD 10:49 AM 9/22/12

   A playful photo project...I think it's good.
   
   If it educates a few more people about what humans are made of (along with all the other stuff on our planet), that's a good thing.

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9. 9. saeed793 08:02 PM 10/31/12

   Read was interesting, thanks
   See this blog: www.zist89.mihanblog.com

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