👩🔬 Who Was She?
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Full Name: Maria Sklodowska-Curie
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Born: November 7, 1867, Warsaw, Poland
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Died: July 4, 1934, France
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Fields: Physics, Chemistry
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Fun Fact: She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize — and she won two!
🧠 Major Achievements
| Discovery / Achievement | What It Means | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Radioactivity | She coined the term and studied unstable atoms | Foundation of nuclear science and medicine |
| Discovered Polonium | A new element, named after Poland (her homeland) | Helped expand the periodic table |
| Discovered Radium | A highly radioactive element | Used later in cancer treatment and research |
| Two Nobel Prizes | 1903 (Physics) and 1911 (Chemistry) | The first person to win in two different sciences |
🏅 Nobel Prizes
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1903 – Nobel Prize in Physics (with her husband Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel)
➤ For research on radiation -
1911 – Nobel Prize in Chemistry
➤ For discovery of radium and polonium
🎓 She was the first female professor at the University of Paris.
🩺 Impact on Medicine
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Marie Curie’s work laid the groundwork for radiation therapy to treat cancer.
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During World War I, she helped create mobile X-ray units to treat soldiers on the battlefield.
💡 Interesting Facts
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She carried radioactive materials in her pocket — not knowing the dangers.
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Her notebooks are still radioactive and stored in lead boxes today.
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Her daughter, Irène Joliot-Curie, also won a Nobel Prize — science runs in the family!
🧠 Famous Quote
❝Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood.❞
— Marie Curie
✅ Why Marie Curie Is Important Today
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She opened doors for women in science.
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Her discoveries changed medicine forever.
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She proved that dedication and curiosity can lead to world-changing results — no matter your gender or background.