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Pierre Curie - Birth
Pierre Curie is born in Paris, France on May 15, 1859. -
Marie Curie - Birth
Marie is born on November 7, 1867 in Warsaw, Poland. She was originally born to the name of Marie Sklodowska. At this time, Pierre is 8 years old. -
The existance of X-rays
In 1895 Wilhelm Roentgen discovered the existence of X-rays, though the mechanism behind their production was not yet understood. -
The discovery of how X-rays were emmited
In 1896 Henri Becquerel discovered that uranium salts emitted rays that resembled X-rays in their penetrating power -
The existane of Polonium
In July 1898, Marie and her husband published a paper together, announcing the existence of an element which they named "polonium", in honour of her native Poland, which would for another twenty years remain partitioned among three empires that claimed it a century before.
Marie and Pierre Curie isolated radium and polonium from pitchblende.
Marie named the first chemical element that she discovered – polonium, which she first isolated in 1898 – after her native country. -
The existance of a second element
On 26 December 1898, the Curies announced the existence of a second element, which they named "radium" for its intense radioactivity – a word that they coined. -
Nobel Prize in Physics
In December 1903 the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded Pierre Curie, Marie Curie and Henri Becquerel the Nobel Prize in Physics, "in recognition of the extraordinary services they have rendered by their joint researches on the radiation phenomena discovered by Professor Henri Becquerel." -
The Death of Pierre Curie
Pierre's death was caused by a horse-drawn buggie. He was run over by one that was carrying military uniforms when he was hurrying across a street in Paris. He was killed instantly. After he passed, Marie took his place as Professor of General Physics in the Faculty of Sciences. This was the first time in history that a women held this position. -
Marie's Nobel Prize
in 1911 the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded her a second Nobel Prize, this time for Chemistry.She was the sole winner of the 1911 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. -
"Little Curies"
After a quick study of radiology, anatomy and automotive mechanics she procured x-ray equipment, vehicles, auxiliary generators and developed mobile radiography units, which came to be popularly known as petites Curies ("Little Curies"). -
The Director of the Red Cross Radiology Service
She became the Director of the Red Cross Radiology Service and set up France's first military radiology centre, operational by late 1914. -
"Radium Emanation"
In 1915 Marie produced hollow needles containing 'radium emanation', a colourless, radioactive gas given off by radium, later identified as radon to be used for sterilizing infected tissue. -
The Death of Marie Curie
Marie Curie passed away from Leukemia in Sancellemoz, France. This cancer was caused from her interaction with radium. She had no idea that it could and was harming her. The papers that she used while touring are still radioactive to this day. -
After Death
In April 1995 Pierre and Marie were enshrined in the crypt of the Panthéon in Paris. -
Most inspirational Women in Science
In a 2009 poll carried out by New Scientist, Marie Curie was voted the "most inspirational woman in science".