The Pioneer

Born Maria Salomea Skłodowska in Warsaw, Poland, she defied the limitations placed on women of her time to become the most iconic female scientist in history.

She coined the term radioactivity, discovered two elements, and was the first person to win Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields. Her relentless curiosity unlocked the secrets of the atom, changing medicine and physics forever. open_in_new

school Sorbonne University

local_hospital Radiology Pioneer

woman First Female Professor

Marie & Pierre Curie in their laboratory, c. 1898

A New Science

Working in a converted shed with poor ventilation, Marie processed tons of pitchblende to isolate tiny fractions of new elements. Select an element to explore.

Polonium (Po)

Named after Marie's native land, Poland, to highlight its lack of independence at the time.

Atomic Number: 84
Key Feature: Highly radioactive alpha emitter.
Isolation: Identified by strong activity in bismuth fractions of pitchblende.

"If the existence of this new metal is confirmed, we suggest that it should be called polonium."
- Report to Academy of Sciences

Radium (Ra)

Named from the Latin radius (ray). It was million times more active than uranium.

Atomic Number: 88
Feature: Glows in the dark (radioluminescence).
Effort: It took 4 years to isolate 0.1 grams of pure radium chloride from tons of ore.

"Radium is not to enrich any one. It is an element; it is for all people."

A Dual Legacy

1903 Physics

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"In recognition of the extraordinary services they have rendered by their joint researches on the radiation phenomena discovered by Professor Henri Becquerel."

Shared with:

Pierre Curie Henri Becquerel

1911 Chemistry

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"For the discovery of the elements radium and polonium, by the isolation of radium and the study of the nature and compounds of this remarkable element."

Sole Winner link

Timeline of Genius

1867

Born in Warsaw

Born Maria Salomea Skłodowska in Russian-occupied Poland. Daughter of teachers.

1895

Marriage to Pierre

Marries physicist Pierre Curie. Their partnership marks the beginning of their radioactive research.

1898

Discovery of Elements

Publishes findings on Polonium (July) and Radium (December). The term "radioactivity" is born.

1903

First Nobel Prize

Becomes the first woman to win a Nobel Prize (Physics), sharing it with Pierre and Becquerel.

1906

Tragedy & First

Pierre is killed in a street accident. Marie takes his place, becoming the first female professor at the Sorbonne.

1914

The "Petites Curies"

During WWI, she develops mobile X-ray units to help field surgeons treat wounded soldiers.

The Nobel Family

Pierre Curie

Husband

Nobel Prize in Physics (1903). Pioneer in crystallography, magnetism, and piezoelectricity.

Irène Joliot-Curie

Daughter

Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1935) for discovery of artificial radioactivity. Worked alongside Marie.

Ève Curie

Daughter

Writer & Diplomat. Her husband, Henry Labouisse, accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of UNICEF (1965).

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"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less."