Whose research showed that atoms consist of small positively charged nuclear centers and lots of empty space populated by electrons?

Rutherford

Explanation:

Basic principles of the Rutherford atomic model.

1. Positively charged particles are in a very small volume compared to the size of the atom.

2. Most of the mass of the atom is in that small central volume. Rutherford did not call it "core" in his initial papal but he did it from 1912.

3. Electrons with negative electrical charge revolve around the nucleus.

4. The electrons rotate at high speeds around the nucleus and in circular paths that it called orbits.

5. Both negatively charged electrons and the positively charged nucleus are held together by an electrostatic attraction force.

its c i just checked it