In a spiral galaxy, the ratio of dark-to-light matter is about a factor of ten. That's probably a good number for the ratio of our ignorance-to-knowledge. We're out of kindergarten, but only in about third grade.
Vera RubinRead
We know very little about the universe. I personally don't believe it's uniform and the same everywhere. That's like saying the earth is flat.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The universe is complex and diverse, not uniform like a flat Earth.
Vera Rubin emphasizes the vast unknowns of the universe and challenges the notion of uniformity across its expanse. By comparing the idea of a uniform universe to the outdated belief of a flat Earth, she highlights the necessity of questioning assumptions and recognizing the intricate, diverse nature of the cosmos.
Themes
UniverseComplexityDiversityKnowledgeQuestioning
In practice
Example use cases
In a science class discussing the nature of the universe.
More from Vera Rubin
All quotes βWe need senators who have studied physics and representatives who understand ecology.
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Nobody ever told us all matter radiated. We just assumed it did.
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There was just nothing as interesting in my life as watching the stars every night.
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I try to do my science in a moral way, and, I believe that, ideally, science should be looked upon as something that helps us understand our role in the universe.
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I had the usual friends who pointed out constellations of stars. But it really was watching the stars. It was getting some sense of the motion of the earth. I found it a remarkable thing.
Vera RubinRead
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