The Woman Who Touched the Stars episode artwork

EPISODE · May 24, 2026 · 18 MIN

The Woman Who Touched the Stars

from The Breaking Point · host Podcaster

Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin figured out what stars are made of in 1925, only to be told her revolutionary discovery was 'clearly impossible.' Her thesis would later be called the most brilliant in astronomy history, but it took decades for the scientific establishment to accept that a 25-year-old woman had unlocked one of the universe's fundamental secrets. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin figured out what stars are made of in 1925, only to be told her revolutionary discovery was 'clearly impossible.' Her thesis would later be called the most brilliant in astronomy history, but it took decades for the scientific establishment to accept that a 25-year-old woman had unlocked one of the universe's fundamental secrets.

NOW PLAYING

The Woman Who Touched the Stars

0:00 18:21

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The Breaking Point?

This episode is 18 minutes long.

When was this The Breaking Point episode published?

This episode was published on May 24, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin figured out what stars are made of in 1925, only to be told her revolutionary discovery was 'clearly impossible.' Her thesis would later be called the most brilliant in astronomy history, but it took decades for the...

Can I download this The Breaking Point episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!