How a Harvard maverick forever changed our concept of the stars
SMRTR summary
Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin revolutionized astronomy in 1925 when, at just 25 years old, she discovered stars are primarily composed of hydrogen and helium—not heavy elements like iron as previously believed. Her groundbreaking application of quantum physics to stellar spectra laid the foundation for modern astrophysics, enabling scientists to understand star formation, chemical origins, and even the beginning of the universe, though her contributions were initially met with resistance and overlooked in favor of male scientists.
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