Final answer:
Giordano Bruno is remembered for his cosmic theories which posited an infinite universe with countless stars and planets, furthering Copernicus's heliocentric model. Challenging the established geocentric worldview, his ideas led to his execution for heresy. His story underscores the clash between pioneering science and the religious authorities of his era.
Step-by-step explanation:
Giordano Bruno was a visionary philosopher, astronomer, and mathematician now most famous for his cosmological theories that anticipated modern concepts of the universe. Bruno proposed that the stars we see at night are actually much like our Sun, each with their own planets, and that the universe is infinite, containing a myriad of worlds. This idea further developed the heliocentric model proposed by Nicolaus Copernicus, asserting that Earth was not the center of the universe.
Bruno's bold thoughts on astronomy and his criticism of geocentric cosmology brought him into conflict with the religious and scientific establishments of his time. His support of the Copernican theory and his philosophical writings about an infinite universe were seen as heretical by the Roman Catholic Church. Unfortunately, his rejection of contemporary doctrines led to his eventual execution in 1600 for heresy.
Bruno's work and tragic end illustrate the tension between emerging scientific ideas and established religious dogma, a narrative further underscored by the experiences of other key figures such as Galileo Galilei, who also faced the Church's condemnation for supporting heliocentric ideas.