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Marie Curie: Early Life
1867: Born Maria Skłodowska in Warsaw, Poland.
1883: Graduated high school with honors but faced restrictions on women’s education.
1891: Moved to Paris, France, and enrolled at Sorbonne University, studying physics mathematics. -
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Discovery of Radioactivity
1895: Married physicist Pierre Curie; they collaborated on scientific research.
1898: Discovered radium polonium, naming polonium after her homeland.
1903: Became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize (Physics) with Pierre Curie Henri Becquerel for their work on radioactivity. -
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Advancing Science & Breaking Barriers
1906: Pierre Curie died in an accident; Marie continued their research.
1909: Became a professor at Sorbonne, the first woman in the role.
1911: Won a second Nobel Prize (Chemistry) for isolating pure radium. -
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Contribution to Medicine & War Efforts
1914: Established Curie Institute in Paris for medical research.
1914–1918: Developed mobile X-ray units ("Petite Curies") used in World War I, saving thousands of soldiers.
1919: Expanded her institute, training future scientists. -
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Later Years & Legacy
1921: Toured the U.S., receiving radium from President Harding for research.
1934: Died from radiation-induced anemia due to prolonged exposure.
Present: Her discoveries revolutionized nuclear medicine cancer treatments.