Marie Curie and the History of Radioactivity

During the 19th century scientists knew little about what went on inside an atom. However, by the end of the century there were startling new ideas about the structure of the atom resulting from the discoveries of X-rays, radioactivity and the electron. The Modern Physics Collection at the Science Museum contains a number of objects used by the physicists who made and researched these discoveries, including some of those belonging to Marie Curie and her family.

Marie Curie, her husband Pierre and their daughter Irène were responsible for the discovery of radioactivity and subsequent research work.

Polish-French chemist and physicist famous for discovering radioactivity

Marie Sklodowska was born in Warsaw in 1867. She was a brilliant student and dreamed of studying at the Sorbonne in Paris but it took eight years of saving before she could afford to go. Despite very poor living conditions, and a lack of French,she graduated in physics in 1893, and mathematics in 1894. While looking for a laboratory in Paris to continue with her experiments she was introduced to Pierre Curie, a highly regarded professor at the School of Physics. They married and joined forces in the laboratory to astonishing effect - they soon made the fantastic discovery of radium and radioactivity.

In 1903 Marie and Pierre Curie were awarded half the Nobel Prize in Physics 'in recognition of the extraordinary services they have rendered by their joint researches on the radiation phenomena discovered by Professor Henri Becquerel'. Pierre was tragically killed in 1906, leaving Marie with two daughters; Irène aged 9 and Eve aged 2. Marie was determined to continue their work. She became the first ever woman professor at the Sorbonne and as well as teaching, she discovered how to isolate radium in metallic form. In 1911 she was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry for the discovery of the elements radium and polonium. This she achieved by the isolation of radium and also from her study of the nature and compounds of this remarkable element.

During World War One she established a front-line X-ray service in the battlefields of Belgium and France, tirelessly fundraising, training staff and driving the X-ray vans. After the war, along with her research, Marie continued to fund raise, this time for her Institutes and for a hospital and laboratory devoted to radiology. She eventually died in 1934 from the cumulative effects of radiation exposure.

In April 1995 Marie and Pierre Curie's remains were enshrined in the Pantheon in Paris. Marie Curie is the first woman to be honoured in such a way for the achievements she made in Physics. Marie met Albert Einstein at the first Solvay Conference of the world's leading physicists. They became friends and in 1913 went on a walking holiday together with their children. Einstein said of Marie '[she was] The only person not corrupted by fame.'