Marie curie c1920

The Life and Achiements of Marie Curie

By fteevin
  • Birth

    She was born in Warsaw, in what was then the Kingdom of Poland, part of the Russian Empire.
  • Began studies at University of Paris

    Curie studied physics, chemistry, and mathematics.
  • Daughter Irène Joliot-Curie born

    Daughter Irène Joliot-Curie born
    Following in her parents' footsteps Joliot-Curie would be awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry, jointly with her husband, in 1935 for their discovery of artificial radioactivity.
  • Announcement of the discovery of polonium

    Announcement of the discovery of polonium
    Curie and her husband published a joint paper announcing the existence of an element which they named "polonium", in honour of her native Poland.
  • Discovery of Radium

    Discovery of Radium
    Curie and her husband discovered radium on 21 December 1898, in a uraninite sample. Pictured: Marie and Pierre Curie experimenting with radium, a drawing by André Castaigne.
  • First Woman to Receive a Nobel Prize

    First Woman to Receive a Nobel Prize
    The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded Pierre Curie, Marie Curie, and Henri Becquerel 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.
  • Death of Pierre

    Pierre was struck by a horse-drawn vehicle and fell under its wheels, causing his skull to fracture. Marie was devestated.
  • First woman professor at the University of Paris

    The physics department of the University of Paris decided to retain the chair that had been created for Pierre and to offer it to Marie.[43] She accepted it hoping to create a world-class laboratory as a tribute to Pierre.
  • Founded Curie Institute

    Founded Curie Institute
    "Institut Curie" continues to be one of the leading medical, biological and biophysical research centres in the world over 100 years after it was founded.
  • Established first military field radiological centres

    Established first military field radiological centres
    She became the director of the Red Cross Radiology Service and set up France's first military radiology centre. Pictured: Curie in a mobile X-ray vehicle
  • Granddaughter Hélène Langevin-Joliot born

    Granddaughter Hélène Langevin-Joliot born
    Hélène would become noted nuclear physicist.
  • Grandson Pierre Joliot-Curie born

    Grandson Pierre Joliot-Curie born
    Yet another scientist, Pierre would become a noted biologist.
  • Death

    Curie died from aplastic anemia believed to have been contracted from her long-term exposure to radiation.