Marie Curie's Radioactivity Research

About

Marie Curie's pioneering work on radioactivity revolutionized our understanding of matter and energy. Her research began in 1897, inspired by Henri Becquerel's discovery of uranium rays and Wilhelm Röntgen's X-rays. Using her husband Pierre's electrometer, she found that uranium compounds' activity depended on the quantity of uranium present, suggesting the radiation came from within the atom itself. This contradicted the belief that atoms were indivisible and solid. Curie's systematic studies led to the discovery of two new elements: polonium in July 1898 and radium in December 1898. Curie's work earned her two Nobel Prizes: the first in Physics in 1903, shared with Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel, and the second in Chemistry in 1911 for isolating pure radium. Her research laid the groundwork for significant advancements in medicine, particularly in radiotherapy. During World War I, she developed mobile X-ray units to aid in diagnosing injuries. The Radium Institute, which she founded, became a leading center for radioactivity research. Her legacy extends beyond her scientific achievements, inspiring generations of scientists and contributing to major medical breakthroughs.