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The Discovery That Changed Astrophysics with Prof. Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell (455)
In this episode, I'm joined by the legendary Dame Susan Jocelyn Bell Burnell - the pioneering astrophysicist who discovered pulsars, launching an entirely new field of astrophysics.
She began her PhD searching for quasars, but soon noticed a strange, repetitive signal appearing night after night - so peculiar she jokingly labelled it LGM ("Little Green Men"). That signal would become one of the most important astronomical discoveries of the century, though the credit and Nobel Prize were controversially awarded to her supervisor.
Dr Bell Burnell also shares why she donated $4.3 million of her own prize money to support underrepresented researchers in physics, especially women and girls, and the work she's doing to make the field more inclusive.
We dive into her views on religion, her life in science since that landmark discovery, and her mission to help more young women pursue careers in physics.
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- The Discovery That Changed Astrophysics with Prof. Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell (455)
The Discovery That Changed Astrophysics with Prof. Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell (455)
Dec 6, 2025
In this episode, I’m joined by the legendary Dame Susan Jocelyn
Bell Burnell - the pioneering astrophysicist who discovered
pulsars, launching an entirely new field of astrophysics.
She began her PhD searching for quasars, but soon noticed a
strange, repetitive signal appearing night after night - so
peculiar she jokingly labelled it LGM ("Little Green Men”). That
signal would become one of the most important astronomical
discoveries of the century, though the credit and Nobel Prize were
controversially awarded to her supervisor.
Dr Bell Burnell also shares why she donated $4.3 million of her own
prize money to support underrepresented researchers in physics,
especially women and girls, and the work she’s doing to make the
field more inclusive.
We dive into her views on religion, her life in science since that
landmark discovery, and her mission to help more young women pursue
careers in physics.
About the Podcast
Dr Karl’s a curious optimist – a great combination for a science lover. Join him and his guests for weird facts, amazing conversation and remember, it’s never too late for a happy childhood.
https://drkarl.com/
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