Marie Curie: The Pioneer, the Nobel Laureate, the Discoverer of Radioactivity

by Richard Gunderman

Overview

This illustrated biography explores all of Marie Curie's accomplishments, from her discoveries of radioactivity, polonium, and radium to her Nobel Prize victory and her continuing influence today.

When Marie Curie and her husband, Pierre, discovered the atomic nature of radioactivity, and isolated polonium and radium, they revolutionized modern science. Her work not only contributed to our understanding of the structure of the atom, but also laid the foundation for modern medical innovations such as X-rays and radiotherapy.

This illustrated biography details Marie's tumultuous personal life at a time of social upheaval, and her struggle to gain recognition in an era when women scientists were almost unknown.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780233006178
Publisher:	Welbeck Publishing Group Limited
Publication date:	12/01/2020
Series:	Great Thinkers
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 9.40(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Dr Richard Gunderman is John A. Campbell Professor of Radiology at Indiana University, US. He is the author of 10 books, including X-ray Vision (OUP, 2013) and We Come to Life with Those We Serve (Indiana University, 2017). Dr Gunderman is also Chancellor's Professor of Radiology, Pediatrics, Medical Education, Philosophy, Liberal Arts, Philanthropy, and Medical Humanities and Health Studies.

Table of Contents

Preface/Acknowledgments 4

Science Preceding the 19th Century 6

Science in the 10th Century 8

Marie's Polish Heritage 12

Birth and Education 18

University of Paris 24

Pierre Curie 30

Courtship and Marriage 34

The Invisible Light 38

Becquerel 44

Birth of Irène 50

Radium and Polonium 54

Difficult Years|P58

The Nobel Prize 64

Nobel Laureates 68

Radium: Remarkable But Deadly 72

After the Prize 76

The Death of Pierre 80

Dark Days 84

The French Academy 88

Paul Langevin 94

The Angevin Affair 100

The Solvay Conference 104

Albert Einstein 110

The Affair's Aftermath 116

Recovery 120

War 124

Military Radiology 128

Missy Meloney 134

Marie in America 138

Irène and Frédéric 142

Death of Mariep 146

Marie's Legacy 152

Index 156