If there's anything more attractive than a female astronomer [just look at the sexy curves on that integral symbol], I haven't thought about it in the last five minutes. And of course, if you're going to be a female astronomer, it doesn't get much hotter than discovering proof of dark matter. I think that Vera Rubin's lack of fame, compared to, say Marie Curie, has to do with the fact that she's still alive and that most people don't have an even rudimentary knowledge of what dark matter/energy is or does. I certainly didn't until a very, very basic History Channel show I caught the other day. Watching this show, I couldn't help but get the feeling that watching it didn't give me the full idea. Whenever I watch something on the pseudo-educational television channels that I have a pretty good knowledge about, it comes off as insultingly simple-minded and often just wrong. It doesn't make me enjoy knowing a little bit about dark matter and dark energy any less, but it has given me enough humility to not go around and brag about my knowledge.
Anyway, the bottom line is that Vera Rubin doesn't get enough respect and I probably have a completely misconceived view of what dark matter and energy is all about.
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