by Natasha Lin
Women’s History Month: A series celebrating women from all walks of life. It is The Helix’s tribute to Women’s History Month.
Who was Marie Curie: An Overview
Marie Curie was the first woman to ever receive a Nobel Prize and the first to win the award in both physics and chemistry. Her work with radioactivity led her to discover the elements polonium and radium, which allowed her to create portable x-rays. To this day, Marie Curie is one of the most prominent women in history as a physicist, chemist, radiobiologist, and Nobel legend.
Early Life
Born in Warsaw, Poland in 1867, Maria Skłodowska grew up in a family of seven. At a young age, she became interested in different concepts of science, especially since her father was a professor of mathematics and physics. Hoping to pursue a higher education, she attempted to enroll in the University of Warsaw but was rejected since she was a female. Nonetheless, she went on to study at Flying University, also known as Floating University, a clandestine underground institution in Poland that educated both women and men as a way of countering the patriarchal system. She then worked as a tutor and governess in order to earn enough money to travel to Paris in hopes of continuing her scientific works at Sorbonne University. There, she earned a physics and math degree and shared a laboratory with Pierre Curie, her lab partner who she eventually married.
Radioactivity
In 1896, Henri Becquerel, a physicist, was the first to discover evidence of radioactivity from the element uranium, which spontaneously emits radiation through x-ray-like waves that interact with photographic plates. His studies inspired Curie's pathway to success, starting with her studying uranium isotopic rays and atomic structures and culminating with her writing a research thesis on radiation. Using an electrometer, an invention created by her husband to measure electric charge, she found that the surrounding air would conduct electricity when penetrated by uranium rays. Curie herself coined the term “radioactivity” to describe these phenomena. Her research with uranium allowed her to believe that radiation could be emitted from the element itself rather than the attractional bonds between the elements, further supporting the theory that molecules were divisible. During this time period, Curie found that thorium and two new elements she discovered also conducted natural radioactivity while working with pitchblende, a uranium-rich ore. She named them polonium, after her home country Poland, and radium, after the Latin word ray. Her discovery of these two new elements not only revolutionized chemistry but also contributed to the field of medicine.
Early Cancer Treatment and X-rays
Discovering radium catalyzed a major step in cancer research, for it is an element that can target superficial tumors, such as skin cancers. By carefully extracting minerals from several tons of pitchblende, the Curies were able to extract a tenth of a gram of pure radium chloride salt, an incredibly impressive feat during this time. She researched the effects of radium salts on the human body and subsequently produced radium medicines and needles that could be used to treat breast cancers. This was one of the first examples of chemotherapy used to treat such malignant tumors. By working with radium therapy, Curie used her newly discovered element to research x-rays, allowing more accurate and powerful x-ray machines to be created. During World War I, Curie helped doctors locate bullets in soldiers’ bodies using the electromagnetic radiation of her portable X-ray equipment, which she called her “Little Curies.” By opening up mobile radiology units, Marie Curie saved a remarkable one million lives serving as a scientist during the war.
Curie’s Remains
On July 4, 1934, Curie died from aplastic anemia, a blood-related disease that usually occurs due to major exposure to radiation. Her colleagues noted that in the lab, she would work with test tubes of radium in the pockets of her lab coat, which took a significant toll on her body. Today, her remains still effuse hazardous rays and are placed in an extremely insulated lead coffin. In order to visit her grave or view her thesis documents, people must sign a waiver and wear protective suits to curb the effects of the radium still captured in her belongings.
Her Legacy
Marie Curie’s groundbreaking accomplishments have sent shockwaves across the world, inspiring a multitude of people including myself. Throughout these past decades, women have been getting more involved in STEM, following in the footsteps of the many extraordinary women who have made history through their scientific contributions. Learning about women like Marie Curie gives us a chance to reflect and remind ourselves that there is no limit to making a difference.
Sources:
- Biography. (2018, February 27). Marie Curie. Biography. https://www.biography.com/scientist/marie-curie
- Davis, A. (2016, February 1). How Marie Curie Helped Save a Million Soldiers During World War I. Spectrum. https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-institute/ieee-history/how-marie-curie-helped-save-a-million-soldiers-during-world-war-i
- Dronsfield, A., & Ellis, P. (n.d.). Radium-a key element in early cancer treatment. RSC. https://www.rsc.org/images/Dronsfield_tcm18-200827.pdf
- Gasinska, A. (2015, December 29). The contribution of women to radiobiology: Marie Curie and beyond. National Center for Biotechnology Information. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5002019/
- History. (2020, April 16). Marie and Pierre Curie isolate radium. History.com Editors. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/curies-isolate-radium
- Mansell, S. (2018, December 19). Radium revealed: 120 years since Curies found the most radioactive substance on the planet. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/radium-revealed-120-years-since-curies-found-the-most-radioactive-substance-on-the-planet-108945
- Tasch, B. (2015, August 31). Marie Curie's Belongings Will Be Radioactive For Another 1,500 Years. Science Alert. https://www.sciencealert.com/these-personal-effects-of-marie-curie-will-be-radioactive-for-another-1-500-years
- Wikipedia. (2003, December 5). Marie Curie. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Curie