Marie and Pierre Curie were scientists who in 1898 discovered the elements radium and polonium. They studied radioactivity and for their work they received the Nobel Prize for physics in 1903.
Marie Curie discovered the radioactive element Radium by processing a ton of mineral known as pitchblende. By a long process of crushing and treating wih acids she eventually purified her new element which is highly radioactive. With her husband Pierre they discovered Polonium after their native Poland.
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Marie and Pierre Curie discovered the elements polonium and radium, which were important in the development of nuclear physics and led to advancements in the field of radiation therapy for cancer treatment. Their research also contributed to the understanding of radioactivity.
Marie Curie was interested in recent discoveries in the field of radiation and began studying uranium radiations. Using techniques devised by her husband she measured the radiations in pitchblende. Pitchblende is an ore containing uranium. Marie Curie identified there were radiations from the ore more radioactive than the ore itself.
She was the first scientist to use the term radioactive, to describe elements that give off radiations as their nuclei break down.
Pierre Curie joined his wife in her research and in 1898 they announced their discovery of polonium and radium.
In 1903 they were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for the discovery of radioactive elements. They shared this with another French scientist called Becquerel. Marie Curie became the first woman to win the Nobel Prize.
Marie Curie is known for her research and discovery of radioactivity. She was born in Poland and was the first female to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Marie and Pierre Curie did not discover the atom. John Dalton is credited with the discovery of the atom and J.J. Thomson with the discovery of the electron.
Marie Curie discovered radium in 1898 while conducting research on radioactivity with her husband Pierre Curie.
Marie Curie discovered radium in 1898 and polonium in 1898.
Pierre Curie
In July of 1898, Marie and Pierre Curie discovered polonium. Just five months later, in December of 1898, they went on to discover radium as well.