Pierre and Marie Curie were extraordinary scientists who left a significant mark both in the world of science and in human history. They married in 1895, and in 1903 were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their joint research on radioactivity.
On April 19, 1906, Pierre Curie died tragically in a street accident. Some speculated that he had been weakened by exposure to radiation, but this was never proven. In 1934, Marie Curie died as a result of long-term exposure to high levels of radiation.
Below are key facts, contributions, and quotes about Marie and Pierre Curie.
Pierre Curie
A French physicist who made significant discoveries in the fields of radioactivity, crystallography, and magnetism.
Main scientific contributions:
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Curie Point – the temperature above which ferromagnetic materials lose their ferromagnetic properties.
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Curie’s Law – the effect of temperature on paramagnetism.
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Piezoelectric effect – the generation of electric potential when crystals are compressed.
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Designed a highly precise torsion balance.
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Together with his wife Marie Curie, isolated the elements polonium and radium.
Marie Curie
The first person ever to receive two Nobel Prizes, a renowned physicist and chemist.
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Born in Poland, later moved to France and became a French citizen.
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Began research in the field after Henri Becquerel discovered radioactivity in uranium.
Main achievements:
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Proved that radiation originates from the atom itself, not from interactions between molecules.
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1911 Nobel Prize in Chemistry – for the discovery of radium and polonium, and for further research on these elements.
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Founded the Radium Institute in Warsaw in 1932 (later renamed the Maria Skłodowska-Curie Oncology Institute), which still conducts specialized cancer research and treatment today.
Famous quotes:
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“We must not forget that when radium was discovered, no one knew that it would prove useful in hospitals. It was a work of pure science. This is proof that scientific work should not be considered only from the point of view of its direct usefulness. It must be done for itself, for the beauty of science, and later, a discovery like radium may become useful to humanity.”
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“One never notices what has been done; one can only see what remains to be done.”
Biology Facts
This section presents interesting facts about biology:
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People who study biology are called biologists.
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The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the largest living structure on Earth (over 2000 km long).
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In 1674, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek observed a living cell for the first time through a microscope.
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Ecology – the study of interactions between organisms, ecosystems, and the environment.
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Some bacteria cause disease, while others aid digestion or help produce yogurt.
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Molds, yeasts, and mushrooms belong to the fungi kingdom.
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The common cold is caused by a virus.
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Viruses can be treated with antiviral drugs.
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Bacteria are extremely small and consist of a single cell.
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Bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics.
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Animals that eat only plants are called herbivores.
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Endangered species – animals at risk of extinction (e.g., blue whales, tigers, pandas). Without conservation efforts, these species may disappear.
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On July 5, 1996, a sheep named Dolly became the first mammal cloned from an adult cell.
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Mutation – a change in an organism’s DNA that results in a new trait.
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French scientist Louis Pasteur invented pasteurization – a method of treating food and liquids to destroy harmful microorganisms without significantly altering taste or quality.
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Charles Darwin developed the theory of natural selection – the process by which individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and pass those traits to the next generation.