How Vera Rubin Found the First Direct Evidence for Dark Matter

In the 1970s, astronomers faced the galactic rotation problem, where stars on the outskirts of galaxies moved faster than expected. Vera Rubin's research provided the first direct evidence of dark matter, a concept previously suggested by astronomers like Horace Babcock, Jan Oort, and Fritz Zwicky. Rubin's work showed that this phenomenon was widespread, not isolated. Her findings laid the foundation for the study of dark matter, which is now believed to make up 84% of the universe's matter. Rubin's legacy continues to influence astronomical research today.

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