Biography of Marie Curie

Maria Skłodowska was born in Warsaw, Poland, and overcame poverty and prejudice to study science in Paris. With her husband Pierre, she discovered polonium and radium, pioneering the field of radioactivity—a term she coined. The first woman to win a Nobel Prize (Physics 1903) and the only person to win in two sciences (Chemistry 1911), her gentle determination opened doors for women in academia. Even after Pierre’s tragic passing, she continued teaching, researching, and directing the Radium Institute. During World War I she equipped “Little Curies”—mobile X-ray units—to save soldiers’ lives. Her lifelong exposure to radiation led to her peaceful passing on July 4, 1934, yet her discoveries continue to light the way in medicine and science, reminding us that curiosity and courage can illuminate the world.