Vera Rubin

Pioneering astronomer who discovered evidence of dark matter

Vera Rubin (1928-2016) revolutionized our understanding of the universe through her groundbreaking work on galaxy rotation rates. While studying spiral galaxies like Andromeda in the 1960s-1970s, Rubin noticed stars at the edges rotated as fast as those near the center - a finding that contradicted Newtonian physics predictions.

Her persistent research (NASA confirmation) revealed that visible matter accounts for less than 20% of galaxies' mass. This "missing mass" became the first conclusive evidence for dark matter - now understood to make up 85% of the universe's mass. Despite facing gender discrimination (she was barred from Princeton's astronomy program), Rubin became the first woman permitted to observe at Palomar Observatory.

Her discoveries fundamentally changed cosmological models and inspired new fields of study. The Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile, scheduled to begin the Legacy Survey of Space and Time in 2024, continues her legacy of cosmic exploration.