Marie Curie Biography

Marie Curie is one of the most prominent names in the history of science. Making many breakthroughs in her lifetime, she is one of the most famous female scientists of all time. She has received numerous honors and awards on behalf of her abilities. Her discoveries and contributions to the world of science have paved the way for future scientists and most importantly, women choosing to join in the wonders of such fields.

Marie Curie was born Maria Skłodowski in Warsaw, Poland on November 7, 1867 to Władisłas and Bronisłtwa Skłodowski. She was born into a middle class family and was the youngest of five children. Both her parents were educators. Her dad, Władisłas, was a math and physics professor at a high school for boys, and her mother, Bronisłtwa, was headmistress of upper-middle class private school for girls. Curie, at a young child, was fond of physics as her father. She was smart and inquisitive student and very much excelled at school.

However, soon the family fell under hardship. Her father lost his job due to Russian oppression and after a bad investment deal, the family became bankrupted. Soon after her eldest sister died of typhus and at only the age of 11, Curie lost her mother, Bronisłtwa, to tuberculosis. This deeply hurt Maria and later caused her to have a nervous breakdown. She was sent to live with distant family to recover where she was forbidden to study anything, except the French language.

Under Russian subjugation, Maria could not attend any universities in Poland for they were men only. She continued her education in Warsaw's "floating university," taking underground, informal classes while working as a governess. Tired of being oppressed by the Russian government, Curie by the government, Maria decid...

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... she fell tremendously ill and was admitted into the Sancellemoz Sanatorium in Passy, France. Initially she thought she had tuberculosis, but after test were done, she was diagnosed with pernicious anemia, which was usually fatal. She died there on July 4, 1934, of pernicious anemia, which was probably caused by her prolonged exposure to high energy radiation.

Marie Curie opened the world up to the science of radioactivity. She discovered polonium and radium, two radioactive elements, and was the first person to ever win two Nobel prizes and in two different subject areas. To the modern world, her discovery of radium was significantly and forever changed our understanding of how matter (atoms) and energy (radiation) are related. Her efforts influenced and expanded theories dealing with fundamental science and brought in a new era of medical research and treatment.