Beatrice Tinsley

Born: 1941

Died: 1981

Achievements: At 26 she rose in public to challenge famous astronomer Allan Sandage. He said the universe will someday collapse; she said the universe will expand forever—and further research proved her right. When pursuing her science required that she relocate, she divorced, and left her two children with her ex-husband. Before her death from cancer at age 40, she would become known as a leading expert on the evolution and ageing of galaxies.