Henrietta Leavitt & the Human Computers: Great Minds

The video explores the contributions of Henrietta Swan Leavitt to astronomy, focusing on her discovery of the relationship between Cepheid variables' luminosity and their periods. This breakthrough allowed astronomers to measure vast cosmic distances, leading to the understanding that the universe is expanding. Despite her significant contributions, Leavitt faced gender-based limitations in her career. Her work laid the foundation for future astronomical discoveries, including those by Edwin Hubble, and highlighted the crucial yet often unrecognized role of women in science.

What was one of the main challenges Henrietta Leavitt faced in her career?

• Opposition from male colleagues

• Inability to access telescopes

• Insufficient mathematical skills

• Lack of interest in astronomy

What type of stars did Henrietta Leavitt focus her research on?

• Red giants

• Neutron stars

• White dwarfs

• Cepheid variables

How did Leavitt's discovery change the way astronomers measure distances in space?

• By calculating star temperatures

• By measuring gravitational pull

• By using the speed of light

• By determining true luminosity of stars

What significant astronomical debate did Leavitt's work help resolve?

• The existence of black holes

• The age of the universe

• The presence of dark matter

• The existence of galaxies beyond the Milky Way

Why was Henrietta Leavitt not awarded the Nobel Prize?

• Her discovery was disproven

• She passed away before being nominated

• She was not nominated

• Her work was not recognized