1867 – Birth in Warsaw, Poland
Born as Maria Skłodowska in Warsaw, she grew up in a family of teachers who valued education despite political oppression under Russian rule.
Marie Curie
Pioneering physicist and chemist whose research on radioactivity transformed modern science and medicine.
Milestones of a Remarkable Life
1891 – Studies in Paris
Moves to Paris to study at the Sorbonne, adopting the name Marie and beginning her path in experimental physics and chemistry.
1895 – Partnership in Science and Life
Marries physicist Pierre Curie, marking the start of one of history’s most remarkable scientific collaborations.
1898 – Discovery of Polonium and Radium
Alongside Pierre, discovers the elements polonium and radium, laying the foundations of modern radiochemistry.
1903 – Nobel Prize in Physics
Receives the Nobel Prize in Physics with Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel for their work on radioactivity, becoming the first woman to win a Nobel Prize.
1906 – Breaking Academic Barriers
After Pierre’s sudden death, she continues their research and becomes the first female professor at the Sorbonne, paving the way for women in academia.
1911 – Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for isolating pure radium, becoming the only person to win Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields.
1914–1918 – Service During World War I
Develops mobile X-ray units known as “Petites Curies” to assist battlefield surgeons, directly saving countless lives through innovation.
1934 – Legacy Beyond a Lifetime
Passes away from aplastic anemia, likely caused by prolonged radiation exposure. Her discoveries reshaped medicine, physics, and the role of women in science.
"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood."