Student Article

Marie Curie was one of the most important scientists in history. She was born Maria Sklodowska in Warsaw, Poland, in 1867. Her family valued education, but they struggled financially. After her mother died, Maria helped her father in his science lab, sparking her interest in chemistry and physics. She later moved to Paris, changed her name to Marie, and studied science at the Sorbonne University.

Life in Paris and the struggle to succeed

At first, life in Paris was difficult. She lived in a cold attic and worked hard to improve her French. Finding work in science was tough for a woman at the time, but Marie proved herself with her intelligence and determination.

Her marriage to Pierre

She eventually met Pierre Curie, a scientist who shared her love of learning. They married and worked together on exciting new research.

Discovering the power of radioactivity

Marie and Pierre were studying strange rays discovered in uranium. Marie found that the rays came from inside the atom itself, not from how atoms were arranged. This was a big breakthrough. She discovered two new elements: polonium, named after her home country, and radium, which gave off powerful rays. These discoveries helped scientists understand radioactivity, a word Marie herself helped make popular.

Marie Curie’s historic Nobel Prizes

In 1903, Marie, Pierre, and their colleague Antoine Henri Becquerel shared the Nobel Prize in physics. Marie was the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize. Later, in 1911, she won a second Nobel Prize — this time in chemistry — for her work on radium and polonium. She remains the only person ever to win Nobel Prizes in two different sciences.

Marie Curie’s lasting legacy

Tragically, Marie’s work with radioactive materials led to serious health problems. Scientists at the time didn’t know how dangerous radiation could be. She died in 1934 from a condition caused by long-term radiation exposure. Still, her discoveries continue to benefit medicine and science today, and she remains a role model for women in science.

© Jheni Osman / www.historyextra.com