Marie Curie (1867–1934) was a pioneering physicist and chemist best known for her groundbreaking work on radioactivity, a term she coined. Born in Poland, Curie moved to France, where she became the first woman to earn a doctorate in science in Europe and the first female professor at the Sorbonne. Alongside her husband, Pierre Curie, she discovered the radioactive elements polonium and radium. Her work laid the foundation for advancements in medical treatments and nuclear physics.
Curie was the first person to win two Nobel Prizes—in Physics (1903) with Pierre and Henri Becquerel, and in Chemistry (1911) for her work in isolating pure radium. Despite facing immense challenges as a woman in science, her legacy endures in the fields of physics, chemistry, and medicine. Curie’s pioneering research on radioactivity has had lasting impacts, though prolonged exposure ultimately led to her death from aplastic anemia, caused by radiation exposure. She remains an icon of scientific achievement and perseverance.
