Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, the Woman Who Discovered What Stars Are Made Of   

• A pioneering astronomer who first revealed what stars are made of has received a long-overdue honor in her hometown. Recently, English Heritage installed a blue plaque at the childhood home of Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin on Lansdowne Road in London’s Notting Hill district, recognizing her groundbreaking contributions to science. In 1925, at just 25 years old, Payne completed a doctoral thesis at Harvard University’s Radcliffe College that transformed astronomy. By studying the light emitted by distant stars, she demonstrated that the universe is composed primarily of hydrogen and helium. Her findings shocked the scientific world, which stubbornly believed that stars shared a composition similar to Earth and were rich in heavier elements. Unfortunately, the male-dominated scientific community initially dismissed her brilliant calculations. Henry Norris Russell, a preeminent astronomer of the day, rejected her findings as impossible, leading Payne to add a note saying her data might be wrong. Years later, when Russell reached the same conclusion, his work received much of the early recognition. Despite the unfair treatment, Payne persisted and eventually became the first female full professor and department chair at Harvard. Today, her historic discovery remains a cornerstone of modern astronomy, and the new plaque serves as a well-deserved tribute to a forgotten hero. J.K. Park Senior Reporter junior/1782808415/1613368089