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Birth& Early life
Marie Curie was born as Maria Skłodowska on November 7, 1867, in Warsaw, Poland (then part of the Russian Empire). She was the youngest of five children in a family of educators. Her father, Władysław Skłodowski, was a physics and mathematics teacher, and her mother, Bronisława Skłodowska, was a school principal. -
Marie Curie
Marie Curie (1867–1934) was a pioneering physicist and chemist known for her discovery of radioactivity. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the only person to win in two different fields—Physics (1903) and Chemistry (1911).In 1891, at the age of 24, she moved to Paris, France, to continue her education at the Sorbonne (University of Paris), where she studied physics and mathematics. -
Discovered Radioactivity
Marie Curie’s Contribution to Radioactivity
Expanding on Becquerel’s Work (1897–1898) Marie Curie was fascinated by Becquerel’s discovery that uranium emitted radiation.
She measured radiation in various substances and found that only uranium and thorium emitted this mysterious energy. -
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Discovery of Radioactivity
Marie Curie, inspired by Becquerel's work, began investigating uranium and its emissions. She discovered that the intensity of these emissions depended on the amount of uranium present, rather than any chemical state or external influence. This meant the energy came from within the atom itself, a revolutionary idea. -
First Nobel Prize
Became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, proving that women could excel in scientific research. -
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First Nobel prize(PHYSICS)
The 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded for their contributions to the discovery and study of radioactivity: Henri Becquerel was honored for discovering spontaneous radioactivity in uranium (1896).
Marie and Pierre Curie were recognized for their pioneering research on radioactivity, including their discoveries of Polonium and Radium (1898). -
Second Nobel Prize in Chemistry
The 1911 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Marie Curie: For the discovery of the elements Radium and Polonium (1898).
For successfully isolating pure radium (1902), proving its existence as a new element.
For studying the properties of radium, including its atomic weight and radiation effects. -
Period: to 1911 BCE
Second Nobel Prize(CHEMISTRY)
Marie Curie became the first person to win two Nobel Prizes and remains the only person to win in two different sciences (Physics Chemistry).
Her work paved the way for modern nuclear science, leading to advances in medicine (radiation therapy), energy (nuclear power), and physics.
Despite facing discrimination as a woman in science, she continued her research even after Pierre Curie’s death in 1906. -
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World War I Contributions
Marie Curie realized that X-ray machines could help doctors locate bullets and shrapnel in wounded soldiers without invasive surgery.She trained over 150 women (including her daughter Irène) as radiology technicians to operate X-ray machines.
She personally drove mobile units to the front lines and assisted in treating soldiers -
World War I Contribution
Establishing X-ray Stations She helped set up over 200 permanent X-ray stations in field hospitals across France.
Radiation Research for Medical Use She promoted the use of radon gas for sterilizing infected wounds, although this application was not widely adopted at the time.Saved thousands of lives by making battlefield surgery more precise and reducing amputations.
Pioneered the use of X-ray technology in medical diagnostics, which is now standard practice in hospitals. -
Death
Marie Curie passed away on July 4, 1934, at the age of 66, in Sancellemoz, France. She died from aplastic anemia, a condition linked to prolonged exposure to high levels of radiation. At the time, the harmful effects of radiation were not well understood, and she often handled radioactive materials without protection. -
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Death & Legacy
Marie Curie’s dedication to science and humanity continues to impact physics, chemistry, and medicine today. Her discoveries revolutionized our understanding of the atom and paved the way for nuclear energy and cancer treatments.