NAME Marie Curie (born Marya Skłodowska)
WHAT FAMOUS FOR Marie Curie was a pioneering scientist best known for her discoveries of the radioactive elements polonium and radium, as well as for being the first person to win two Nobel Prizes, in Physics and Chemistry.
BIRTH Born on November 7, 1867, in Warsaw, in the Russian partition of Poland. Her birthplace is now the Maria Skłodowska-Curie Museum.
FAMILY BACKGROUND Marie was the youngest of five children born to Władysław Skłodowski, a professor of mathematics and physics, and Bronisława Skłodowska, a school principal who died of tuberculosis when Marie was 10. Less than three years earlier, Marie's eldest sister had succumbed to typhus.
Despite his academic brilliance, her father's career was hindered by the oppressive Russian regime that controlled Poland at the time.
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| Władysław Skłodowski and daughters (from left) Maria, Bronisława, and Helena, 1890 |
CHILDHOOD Marie was a bright and sensitive child who displayed an exceptional memory and was fascinated by science. She was deeply patriotic and resented being forced to study in Russian instead of Polish. Her idealism led her to dream of overthrowing the Tsarist regime in Poland.
EDUCATION Marie Curie possessed an exceptional intellect and a remarkable memory. At the age of ten, Marie began her formal education at J. Sikorska's boarding school. Subsequently, she attended a girls' gymnasium, graduating with honors on June 12, 1883. Even after completing her formal education, her father continued to challenge her with advanced mathematics problems.
Following a period of illness, possibly related to depression, she spent a year recovering in the countryside with her father's relatives. The following year, she returned to Warsaw, where she engaged in private tutoring.
During the years 1883 to 1885, Poland was under Russian rule, and women were denied access to higher education. Undeterred, Marie joined a clandestine group of women dedicated to studying science at The Flying University (an underground educational enterprise that operated in Warsaw.
To further her education, Marie worked as a governess from 1885 to 1891, sacrificing sleep and meals to study English, French, and Russian scientific texts. In 1891, she reunited with her sister Bronisława in Paris and enrolled at the Sorbonne where she studied physics, chemistry, and mathematics. This marked a turning point in her life, as she was finally able to pursue her passion for science without restrictions.
At the Sorbonne, Marie immersed herself in her studies, earning degrees in both physics and mathematics, despite struggling with poverty. She topped her class in physics in 1893 and placed second in mathematics the following year. Her dedication to her studies was unwavering; she was known for her tireless work ethic, often neglecting basic needs like food and sleep.
Despite facing numerous obstacles due to her gender, Marie persevered and achieved remarkable success. In 1906, she made history by becoming the first woman to teach at the Sorbonne, solidifying her legacy as a trailblazer in the field of science.
Unable to attend university in Russian-ruled Poland, she studied secretly at the Flying University and later moved to Paris in 1891 to study physics and chemistry at the Sorbonne, earning two master’s degrees despite struggling with poverty.
CAREER RECORD Marie Curie didn't believe a woman's place was to cook for her husband, turn curtains into clothes and bring children up in the traditional Polish way.
1885 Worked as children's governess for a wealthy country family to support her sister's university education in Paris.
1895 Became research scientist starting off with a small grant to research magnetism.
1898: Discovered the elements polonium and radium.
1900 Taught Physics at Ecole Normale Sevres-highest woman's college in France.
1903: Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics, shared with Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel.
1906 Became a professor of physics at the Sorbonne, the first woman to hold this position, succeeding her husband, Pierre
1911: Awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
1914: Founded the Radium Institute in Paris.
1919 Professor of Radiology at Warsaw.
1920s and 30s Active in League of Nations International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation
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| Marie Curie c 1920 |
FASHION Her dark hair was typically styled in a simple updo, a common fashion of the time.
She rarely dressed to attract attention, often choosing practical and simple attire.
Marie Curie was a woman of striking features, often seen in a dark blue laboratory outfit, a practical choice that reflected her dedication to science.
A unique aspect of her appearance was her wedding dress, which she repurposed as a laboratory outfit. This practical blue cotton dress allowed her to seamlessly transition from her wedding day to her scientific pursuits. The toll of her work was evident on her hands, often raw and inflamed from constant exposure to radioactive materials.
CHARACTER Curie was a determined, hard-working, and modest individual. She believed in focusing on science over personal recognition.
She was shy and private, yet obsessive, intense and incorruptible. As Albert Einstein famously remarked, "Madame Curie is very intelligent but she has the soul of a herring."
SENSE OF HUMOUR Curie was stoic, hard working but not laugh a minute.
RELATIONSHIPS Marie Curie was a woman of strong convictions, as evidenced by her decision to leave a governess position after being denied permission to marry the son of the family. This bold move led her to Paris, where she embarked on her groundbreaking scientific journey.
In the spring of 1894, Marie met Pierre Curie, a brilliant scientist and a gentle soul. Their shared passion for science ignited a deep connection, and they were married in a civil ceremony in Sceaux, France on July 26, 1895. They were deeply in love and worked tirelessly together in their laboratory.
Tragedy struck on April 19, 1906, during a rainy afternoon in Paris when Pierre Curie met a tragic end while crossing the busy Rue Dauphine. The wet conditions significantly reduced visibility, and as he attempted to cross the street with an umbrella, he slipped and fell under the wheels of a heavy horse-drawn cart carrying military equipment, causing fatal injuries. Marie was devastated by his loss but persevered in her scientific work.
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| Pierre and Marie Skłodowska-Curie, 1895 |
Marie and Pierre Curie welcomed their first daughter, Irène, in 1897. Following in her parents' footsteps, Irène Joliot-Curie became a distinguished scientist, earning the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1935, jointly with her husband Frédéric Joliot-Curie. Their pioneering research on artificial radioactivity laid the foundation for the discovery of the neutron. This remarkable achievement solidified the Curie family's legacy as the only mother-daughter duo to have received Nobel Prizes.
The Curies' second daughter, Ève, born in 1904, pursued a different path. While her family members were drawn to the world of science, Ève found her passion in the arts. She became a talented concert pianist and a skilled writer and journalist. Her career even included work as a war correspondent, demonstrating her courage and versatility.
In 1911 Marie had an alleged relationship with the married physicist Paul Langevin (1872-1946) that hit the headlines. They rented a flat near the Sorbonne where they met in secret. A former student of Pierre it is thought Marie was only trying to maternally encourage him in his work and encourage him over personal problems. While the details of their relationship remain speculative, it undoubtedly added to the public scrutiny and criticism she endured.
It is a strange coincidence that Paul Langevin's grandson Michel later married her granddaughter Hélène Langevin-Joliot
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| 1903 Nobel Prize diploma |
FOOD AND DRINK As a student in Paris young Marie was so poor and absorbed in her studies she nearly starved to death. Often her meals consisted of buttered bread and tea. Like many Poles she loved her tea.
MUSIC AND ARTS Curie may have had some appreciation for the arts, but her dedication to scientific research seemed to leave little time for extensive engagement with them.
Her daughter Eve was a concert pianist, indicating an appreciation for music in the family.
LITERATURE Curie valued scientific texts and worked tirelessly to educate herself through books in multiple languages, including English, French, and Russian.
Marie Curie's books and personal effects are still radioactive today, over 100 years after her death. This includes her laboratory notebooks, papers and even her cookbooks.
Her notebooks and papers are stored in lead-lined boxes at France's Bibliotheque National in Paris Visitors who wish to view these items must wear protective clothing and sign a waiver of liability
Marie Curie: A Life by Susan Quinn is a comprehensive biography exploring her life and legacy, delving into her personal struggles and achievements.
Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie, A Tale of Love and Fallout by Lauren Redniss is a graphic biography that creatively intertwines her personal story with the far-reaching consequences of her scientific discoveries.
Several books aimed at young readers celebrate her achievements, such as Marie Curie: Little People, Big Dreams by Isabel Sánchez Vegara and Who Was Marie Curie? by Megan Stine.
NATURE Marie Curie had a deep appreciation and enjoyment of nature. She stated, "All my life through, the new sights of Nature made me rejoice like a child."
Marie and Pierre took pleasure in long bicycle rides in the French countryside and abroad.
HOBBIES AND SPORTS Curie’s main recreational activity was cycling, which she enjoyed during her honeymoon and throughout her marriage. She and Pierre went on numerous cycling trips throughout Europe. Cycling offered them freedom, mobility, and a chance to challenge societal norms.
SCIENCE AND MATHS Marie excelled in mathematics and physics from a young age, often corresponding with her father on advanced problems.
While examining a uranium-rich mineral known as pitchblende, the Curies made a groundbreaking discovery: a mysterious phenomenon they termed "radiation." Through meticulous and relentless research over two years, they identified the source of this radiation as two new elements: polonium, discovered first, and radium. This discovery marked a significant milestone, ushering in the era of artificial radioactivity.
The isolation of radium proved to be a formidable challenge. It took nearly four years of painstaking work, involving grinding, dissolving, filtering, and crystallizing tonnes of uranium waste. Despite the constant exposure to radiation, the Curies persevered, ultimately extracting a mere tenth of a gram of pure radium from eight tonnes of pitchblende on December 21, 1898.
The Curies announced their discovery of radium on December 26, 1898. They presented their findings to the French Academy of Sciences on this date, informing the scientific community about the existence of this new element. In their announcement, they proposed the name "radium" for the newly discovered element, derived from the Latin word for "ray."
The element was subsequently showcased at the Paris Exposition of 1900, captivating the world with its mysterious glow.
The Curies' groundbreaking work in radioactivity laid the foundation for modern physics and chemistry.
PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Raised a nominal Catholic, Marie abandoned her faith at 15, believing that scientists should focus on facts rather than personal beliefs.
Curie: "Nothing in life is to be feared only understood."
POLITICS Curie’s work in Poland’s clandestine Flying University demonstrated her quiet defiance of oppressive Russian rule.
SCANDAL When Marie Curie was awarded her second Nobel Prize in 1911, some speculated that it was granted out of sympathy, as she was navigating a period of public scrutiny following rumors of an affair with the married physicist Paul Langevin. The scandal, fueled by the sensationalist press, significantly tarnished her reputation.
Marie Curie's groundbreaking work and unwavering commitment to science were often overshadowed by gender bias. Her nomination for membership in the French Academy was ultimately rejected by a single vote, highlighting the prevailing prejudice against women in academia.
MILITARY RECORD During World War I, Marie Curie played a pivotal role in medical advancements by spearheading the use of mobile X-ray units to treat wounded soldiers. As a director of the Red Cross, she organized X-ray stations and dispatched female doctors to the front lines, equipped with portable X-ray equipment.
To power these units, Curie utilized radium emanation, a radioactive gas later identified as radon. She personally provided the necessary tubes of radium emanation, extracted from the radium she had purified. In a remarkable act of patriotism, she even sold her and her husband's Nobel Prize medals to support the war effort.
HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Marie Curie's work often exposed her to harmful radiation. She initially underestimated the dangers, attributing her increasing fatigue, weight loss, and other health issues to overwork.
As the years passed, Marie Curie's health deteriorated significantly, leading to multiple cataract surgeries. The long-term effects of radiation exposure, poorly understood at the time, ultimately claimed her life. Despite these risks, her research laid the foundation for modern radiation therapy, a crucial tool in cancer treatment.
During World War I, Curie applied her knowledge of radiation to medical advancements. She played a pivotal role in developing mobile X-ray units, powered by radium emanation, to treat wounded soldiers. By the end of her life, Curie's legacy was solidified not only as a brilliant scientist but also as a
HOMES In their early years of research, Marie and Pierre Curie worked under challenging conditions in a dilapidated wooden shed attached to the École de Physique et Chimie in Paris.
After their marriage in 1895, Pierre and Marie moved to 108 boulevard Kellermann in Paris.
In 1898, when they discovered radium, the Curies lived at 24 Rue de la Glaciere in Paris. A marble tablet near the entrance commemorates this historic event.
They later moved to 45 Rue des Arts et Métiers. With the prize money from her second Nobel Prize, Marie invested in improving her home, redecorating the walls and installing a modern bathroom.
From 1912 to 1934, Marie Curie lived on Quai de Béthune in Paris, on the Ile St. Louis. She moved here after the scandal involving Paul Langevin in 1911, seeking privacy from public scrutiny.
With the prize money from her second Nobel Prize, Marie invested in improving her home, redecorating the walls and installing a modern bathroom.
TRAVEL The Curies often sought solitude in a remote cottage in Brittany. A curious American journalist once tracked them down, only to find a seemingly ordinary woman at the door. When asked about the famous scientist, the woman replied, "Madame Curie has only this message for reporters: be less curious about people and more curious about ideas."
In 1921, Marie Curie embarked on a triumphant tour of the United States, where she was celebrated for her groundbreaking work. The trip was organized to raise funds for radium research, and she was presented with a gram of radium by President Warren G. Harding.
DEATH Marie Curie died aged 66 of aplastic anemia on July 4, 1934 as a result of her extensive exposure to radiation, She was interred alongside Pierre in Sceaux and later reinterred in the Panthéon in Paris.
APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Marie Curie’s story has inspired numerous films, and documentaries, reflecting her impact as a pioneering scientist.
They include:
Madame Curie (1943) A Hollywood biopic starring Greer Garson as Marie Curie and Walter Pidgeon as Pierre Curie. The film was critically acclaimed and earned seven Academy Award nominations, though it romanticized aspects of her life.
Radioactive (2020) This biographical drama, starring Rosamund Pike as Marie Curie, offered a more modern interpretation of her life, incorporating visual representations of the impact of her discoveries, such as their role in cancer treatment and atomic weaponry.
Marie Curie: The Courage of Knowledge (2016) A French-Polish biopic that explores her personal and professional life, including her controversial relationship with Paul Langevin and the challenges of being a woman in science.
Marie Curie has been featured in numerous science and history documentaries, including BBC specials and PBS's American Experience. These programs often highlight her scientific contributions and the societal barriers she overcame.
Other appearances in media include The Half-Life of Marie Curie (2019), a two-woman play by Lauren Gunderson focusing on Marie Curie’s friendship with scientist Hertha Ayrton during the tumultuous period following her affair with Paul Langevin.
Marie Curie has been immortalized in paintings and statues worldwide, including one at the Radium Institute in Paris and a mural in Warsaw.
The Maria Skłodowska-Curie Museum in Warsaw, located in her birthplace, is dedicated to her life and work.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Discovered polonium and radium.
First woman to win a Nobel Prize and the first person to win it twice.
Revolutionized medical care with mobile X-ray machines during World War I.
Became the first female professor at the Sorbonne.
The curie-the unit of radioactivity equal to that emitted by one gramme of radium is named after her.
Left a legacy of scientific excellence, with her daughter Irene also winning a Nobel Prize.
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