Jocelyn Bell Burnell Quiz

Jocelyn Bell Burnell is a renowned astrophysicist who played a pivotal role in the discovery of pulsars, celestial objects that emit regular pulses of radiation.

Pulsars are rapidly rotating neutron stars with incredibly strong magnetic fields. They emit beams of radiation that sweep across space, creating the observed pulses.

While a PhD student at Cambridge University, Bell Burnell detected unusual radio signals emanating from a specific point in space. These signals were later determined to be pulsars.

Bell Burnell's initial observation of pulsars was initially believed to be man-made interference. However, further investigation revealed that the signals were indeed extraterrestrial.

Bell Burnell received the Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics in 2018 for her groundbreaking discovery of pulsars. The prize highlights the significant impact of her research on the field of astronomy.