Marie Curie's life was a mix of amazing talent, strength, and quiet change. She was born Maria Skłodowska in Warsaw, Poland, on November 7, 1867. Her family really cared about learning, but it was hard for people to study because of the political situation under Russian control.
Scientific Breakthroughs
In 1891, Marie moved to Paris to study at the Sorbonne, where she got degrees in Physics and Mathematics.
She married Pierre Curie in 1895, creating one of the most famous science partnerships.
Together, they discovered polonium, named after her home country, and radium.
She was the first to use the word "radioactivity" to describe their findings.
She won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903 along with Pierre and Henri Becquerel.
Later, she won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1911 for isolating pure radium, making her the only person to win Nobel Prizes in two different scientific areas.
Trailblazer for Women
After Pierre's death in 1906, Marie became the first woman to be a professor at the University of Paris, breaking down barriers in a field mostly dominated by men.
She led the Radium Institute, which became a key center for medical and scientific research.
Humanitarian Work
During World War I, she created mobile X-ray units and trained medical workers, even helping on the front lines with her daughter Irène.
She also promoted the use of radium for treatment and helped set up a radioactivity lab in Warsaw with a donation from U.S. President Hoover.
Legacy and Death
Marie Curie died on July 4, 1934, from aplastic anemia, which was probably caused by long exposure to radiation.
Her influence continues through the Curie family, who have won five Nobel Prizes, and through the many lives her discoveries have helped.
She wasn't just a scientist—she was a powerful force that changed how we understand the world.
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