Life and achievements
Early life
Marie Curie was born as Maria Salomea Skłodowska on November 7, 1867, in Warsaw, Poland. She was the last of five children of her parents, and education was highly valued in her family. Her father, Władysław Skłodowski, was a teacher of mathematics and physics, while her mother, Bronisława, was a principal of a famous girls' boarding school. The family was in a poor financial situation because of the political situation in Poland and the confiscation of their assets. Nevertheless, the girl was a bright student, and after finishing high school, she received a gold medal at the age of fifteen.
Curie could not attend a traditional university because she was a woman; therefore, she joined the Flying University, a secret Polish institution that admitted women. She went to Paris in 1891 to further her education at the University of Paris and obtained her degrees in physics and mathematics. Curie's childhood can be described as a period of hard work and perseverance since she had to work as a tutor to finance her education. It was not in vain when she met Pierre Curie, a physicist, whom she married and worked with as her husband.
Both the Curies contributed immensely to the discovery of radioactivity, a term that Marie gave. This partnership resulted in the identification of two new elements: polonium and radium. The early life of Marie Curie can be regarded as the starting point of her great scientific activity, which was a continuous search for new knowledge and a struggle for achievement despite the existing barriers.
Legacy
Marie Curie is a remarkable woman who has left a lasting impact on the scientific community, especially in the medical field, as well as the fight for women's rights in academia. Her work on radioactivity brought her two Nobel Prizes and completely changed her view on atomic structure and radiation. Curie's research paved the way for many medical discoveries, such as the creation of X-ray machines and radiation therapy for cancer.
Apart from the milestones she made in science, Curie paved the way for women in science. Marie Curie was the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize, the first person to be awarded Nobel Prizes in two different sciences, and the first female professor at the University of Paris. Curie's triumph in the male-dominated field paved the way for many women who wanted to work in the science and technology industry. Her establishments in Paris and Warsaw remain premier research facilities and contribute to the current developments in medicine and science.
Curie's desire to apply her findings for the benefit of society is evident in her humanitarianism. She also introduced mobile radiography units during the First World War to address the needs of the injured soldiers, which is evidence of her commitment to using science to address issues affecting people. Curie's life and achievements are a vivid example of the importance of hard work, curiosity, and the search for knowledge for the benefit of society.
Milestone moments
Nov 18, 1891
Leaving for Higher Education in Paris
Marie Curie arrived in Paris in November 1891 to join the University of Paris to further her education.
She abandoned her native Poland to attend the university in a city that provided better prospects for female scientists in the fields of physics, chemistry, and mathematics.
In Paris, she obtained her Baccalaureate in physics in 1893 and mathematics in 1894, thus paving the way for her future career as a scientist.
Marie's decision to move to Paris was the starting point of her transition into a higher level of scientific research. At first, she had some financial problems and had to work to pay for her needs. Even for her education, she had to give private lessons.
Her commitment and hard work were seen as she would study throughout the nights and early mornings with a passion for science.
Marie Curie also started her affair with Pierre Curie in Paris, a physicist whom she later married. It would produce some of the most important scientific breakthroughs of the twentieth century, such as the discovery of the elements polonium and radium.
It was not only a geographical change but a turning point in her life when she moved to Paris.
Jul 18, 1898
Polonium and Radium Discovery
In July 1898, Marie and Pierre Curie announced the discovery of two new elements: Polonium and radium.
Their research into the strange rays coming from uranium took them to the mineral called pitchblende, which they then refined to obtain these elements. This discovery was revolutionary and made the Curies famous in the world of radioactivity research.
The discovery of polonium, a new element that was named after Poland, demonstrated her love for her country and her desire to pay homage to it. The discovery of radium with very high radioactivity paved the way for discoveries in the scientific field as well as its uses.
The Curies found that the atom was not the ultimate subatomic particle as earlier believed but was made up of other particles.
This was an outstanding achievement in the field of atomic structure and the nature of radioactive substances' decaying process. It brought her fame and recognition and paved the way for her first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903, which she shared with Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel.
The discovery of polonium and radium was an outstanding achievement in the field of science and had effects on medicine and industry.
Dec 18, 1903
The First Nobel Prize in Physics
Marie Curie, together with Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel, received the Nobel Prize in Physics in December 1903 for their research on radioactivity.
Marie was the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize, and this was an outstanding achievement that opened the door for women in science. This recognition helped them to focus on their work and contributed to the development of science.
Thus, the Nobel Prize rewarded their studies of spontaneous radiation that Becquerel had discovered. Marie's creativity and systematic approach to her work were critical to the discovery of these results.
It not only recognized their efforts but also provided them with a good amount of funding which helped them to continue their study.
Marie Curie was awarded by the Nobel Committee, which was a major shift in her career as she gained international attention for her work. Still, she always focused on her work because she was passionate about the research and the desire to contribute to the development of humanity.
This was the first Nobel Prize awarded in 1903, and this was the start of Curie's contribution to science.
Apr 18, 1906
Pierre Curie's Tragic Death
Unfortunately, Pierre Curie died in a street accident on April 19, 1906, in Paris.
He died suddenly, and this was a significant loss to Marie Curie in terms of her personal and academic life. Pierre had been not only her husband but also her best friend and the most important colleague and co-author of her scientific discoveries.
Nevertheless, Marie Curie decided to continue with their work even after such a significant loss. She replaced Pierre in teaching at the University of Paris and thus became the first woman to hold an academic chair. This showed her strength and dedication to keep on with their joint scientific vision even after the death of Pierre.
This tragic event was a turning point in the life of Marie, and from that time on, her life changed for the worse. The problem was that she had to continue the highly ambitious research on her own after they left.
Her determination and the subsequent accomplishments that followed are evidenced by her second Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1911. The loss of Pierre was a great grief, but this was seen as having in no way deterred Marie Curie from the scientific research she was conducting.