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EPISODE · Apr 17, 2026 · 18 MIN

The Woman Who Saw Stars as Computers

from The Breaking Point · host Podcaster

In 1925, Cecilia Payne figured out what stars are actually made of—and was told by the world's leading astronomer that her discovery was 'clearly impossible.' Her PhD thesis would later be called the most brilliant in astronomy, but first she had to wait for the men to catch up. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In 1925, Cecilia Payne figured out what stars are actually made of—and was told by the world's leading astronomer that her discovery was 'clearly impossible.' Her PhD thesis would later be called the most brilliant in astronomy, but first she had to wait for the men to catch up.

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The Woman Who Saw Stars as Computers

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In 1925, Cecilia Payne figured out what stars are actually made of—and was told by the world's leading astronomer that her discovery was 'clearly impossible.' Her PhD thesis would later be called the most brilliant in astronomy, but first she had to...

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