Vera Rubin
Vera Rubin (July 23, 1928 - December 25, 2016) was an American astronomer whose research provided some of the earliest and strongest observational evidence for the existence of dark matter. By studying the rotation curves of spiral galaxies, she found that stars at the outer edges were moving at unexpectedly high speeds, which could not be explained by visible matter alone. This discovery revolutionized astrophysics and strongly supported the idea that a large portion of the universe is made of an invisible form of matter.
Quotes
- Science is competitive, aggressive, demanding. It is also imaginative, inspiring, uplifting.
- Science progresses best when observations force us to alter our preconceptions.
- Each one of you can change the world, for you are made of star stuff, and you are connected to the universe.