Marie Curie was, without a doubt, one of the greatest names in history, having contributed greatly to science and receiving two Nobel Prizes, including being the first woman in history to be awarded the award.
Born into modest circumstances in 19th century Poland, originally Maria Skłodowska, overcame obstacles such as death her mother's precociousness and the financial and social limitations at a time when no one believed that a woman could be scientist.
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The first steps in science
Far from being overwhelmed by these obstacles, Marie cultivated her love of science and mathematics through self-teaching and informal education.
Her journey, from her youth in Warsaw, to her presence in classrooms and laboratories of the Sorbonne, in Paris, is a story full of discoveries that revolutionized science and medicine.
Her restless spirit led her to Paris, as she believed the city would offer greater academic freedom. There, she met Pierre Curie, a fellow scientist who would become her partner, both in love and in research.
The discovery of radioactivity
United by a shared passion for scientific discovery, Marie and Pierre Curie embarked on a journey to explore the mysterious universe of radioactivity, a term that was coined by Marie herself Curie.
The couple's work together resulted in revolutionary discoveries that irrevocably altered our understanding of the natural world.
In 1898, they announced the discovery of two new elements: polonium, named after Marie's native Poland, and radium, an element that would become synonymous with radioactivity.
Marie's contributions were many, but the discovery of radioactivity It was certainly the most memorable, both for the world and for the scientist herself, even if in a tragic way.
Marie Curie's Nobel Prizes
Marie Curie meticulously isolated these elements, an arduous process that involved handling tons of pitchblende ore, a variety of uraninite.
This dedication led to her receiving her first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903, which she shared with Pierre Curie and Antoine Henri Becquerel. This monumental achievement made her the first woman in history to receive a Nobel Prize, thus breaking yet another barrier.
In 1911, she received her second Nobel Prize, this time in Chemistry, for her contribution to the advancement of chemistry by through the discovery of the elements radium and polonium, the isolation of radium and the study of its nature and its compounds.
This achievement made her the first person to receive Nobel Prizes in two distinct scientific disciplines, a feat that remains unparalleled to this day.
Tragic end to a brilliant career
Marie Curie died on July 4, 1934, aged 66, in Sancellemoz, France, due to complications related to aplastic anemia. This was a direct result of years of exposure to her own discoveries.
She was repeatedly exposed to radiation while carrying out experiments with radioactive substances, such as radium and polonium, which she and her husband, Pierre Curie, discovered.
At the time of their discoveries, the harmful effects of radiation were not yet completely understood. In this way, protection measures were almost non-existent.
Even as her health deteriorated, Curie continued to work on her scientific studies and collaborated with other research, and his dedication to science remained unshakable until the end of his career. life.