On the 7th November Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel prize, was born in Warsaw, Poland and she changed the course of science forever!
At age 24, she enrolled at the Sorbonne University as she could not attend the University of Warsaw because the Russian government prohibited women from attending university anywhere in its empire.
She described how this exposure and ability to immerse herself in the world of scientific discovery ‘was like a new world opened to [her], the world of science, which [she] was at last permitted to know in all liberty.’
Whilst at university, she wrote her thesis on radiation, inspired by the discoveries of Henry Beckerel and his work with Uranium.
In 1898, Marie Curie and her husband, Pierre, discovered the element Polonium, which was found to be 400 times more radioactive than Uranium.
In December of that year, Marie Curie then discovered Radium, an even more radioactive element.
In 1903, for her inspirational research in “radiation phenomena,” Curie became the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize.
In 1911, she won her second Nobel prize for her contribution to Chemistry and became the first person to win two Nobel prizes.
Her scientific discoveries were revolutionary and paved the way for the creation of new technology in the field of medicine.
Curie promoted the use of X-rays during WW1 and developed radiological cars.
These later became known as “petites Curies” this allowed battlefield surgeons to X-ray wounded soldiers and operate more accurately.
Her discovery of new radioactive elements inspired the use of radiation in medicine and it has been implemented as a treatment for cancer.
In 1934, at age 66, Marie Curie died from aplastic anemia, which was likely caused by years of radiation exposure.
She is remembered today as one of the most revolutionary female scientists whose legacy is one of determination, curiosity and daring to dream.
Her achievements are inspirational, her words just as much: 'We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained.' - she certainly lived by this, and so must we all.
