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Marie Curie: The Explorer

Marie Curie’s life is a story of determination, discovery, and quiet courage.


Black-and-white portrait of Marie Curie seated, wearing a dark dress and looking slightly to her left, photographed in the early 20th century.
(Image credit: Time Life Pictures/Mansell/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images)

In 1867, in Warsaw, Poland, a girl was born . Her parents, both teachers, instilled in her a love of learning. Now, remember that the time of 1867 was a different. Despite excelling in school, she faced a major obstacle: women were barred from formal higher education in Poland. But, she was not disheartened. She joined a clandestine “Flying University” that taught science in secret, then worked as a governess to support her sister’s studies before pursuing her own dreams.

Historic classroom associated with the clandestine “Flying University” in Warsaw, showing wooden desks and students gathered for secret higher-education lectures.
(Image shows the classroom at 'Flying University'. Credit: Researchgate (Link))

In 1891, she moved to Paris, enrolling at the Sorbonne. Life was harsh—she often studied in cold, dim rooms, surviving on little food— but her brilliance shone. She earned degrees in physics and mathematics, and in 1894 met Pierre Curie, a fellow scientist. Their shared passion for research soon turned into a deep partnership in both work and life. They married the next year.

Black-and-white photograph of Marie and Pierre Curie standing together shortly after their marriage, dressed in simple late-19th-century attire.
(Image shows Marie and Pierre Curie, soon after getting married, credit: OncoDaily (Link))

The Curies embarked on groundbreaking research into radioactivity. In 1898, they discovered two new elements: polonium (named after her homeland) and radium. Extracting even tiny amounts was painstaking work, but their persistence paid off. In 1903, they won the Nobel Prize in Physics, making Marie the first woman laureate.


Tragedy struck in 1906 when Pierre died in a street accident. Marie was heartbroken. Marie took over his teaching post at the Sorbonne, becoming its first female professor.


She continued her work, and in 1911, she won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for isolating pure radium—becoming the first person to win Nobels in two different sciences.

Marie Curie standing beside a mobile X-ray vehicle during World War I, used to provide radiological imaging near battlefield hospitals.
(Image shows Marie inside a car carrying X-Ray units during World War I, Image Credit: IEEE Spectrum)

During World War I, she turned her skills to saving lives, developing mobile X-ray units (“petites Curies”) and personally training operators, traveling to the front lines. After the war, she advocated for scientific collaboration, traveled widely, and founded the Radium Institute in Paris, which became a center for cancer research.


Yet, her fame came with challenges. She endured sexism, xenophobia, and scrutiny over her private life. Despite this, she never lost focus on her mission: advancing science for humanity’s benefit.

Later-life portrait of Marie Curie, showing her with a serious expression and formal early-20th-century clothing.
(Image Reference: USA Today)

Marie Curie died in 1934 from aplastic anemia, likely caused by long-term radiation exposure— before the dangers were understood. Her legacy is monumental: a pioneer for women in science, a discoverer of elements, and a symbol of resilience. The Curies’ work opened paths in physics, chemistry, and medicine, and Marie’s name still inspires generations of scientists. 

References:

  1. Marie Curie. New Scientist. Retrieved February 24, 2026, from https://www.newscientist.com/people/marie-curie/

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