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= Marie Curie - The Pioneer of Radioactivity =

'''Marie Curie''' (1867–1934) was a world-renowned scientist known for her groundbreaking work on '''radioactivity'''. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, and the only person to win Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields — Physics and Chemistry.

== Early Life and Education ==

* Born as '''Maria Sklodowska''' in Warsaw, Poland (1867)  
* Moved to Paris to study at the University of Paris (Sorbonne)  
* Married French physicist '''Pierre Curie''' — together they became scientific partners

== Major Scientific Contributions ==

=== 1. Discovery of Radioactivity ===  
Marie Curie studied the mysterious energy released by certain elements like uranium. She called this property '''radioactivity''', a term she coined.

=== 2. Discovered Two New Elements ===  
With her husband, she discovered:

* [[Polonium]] (Po) – named after her homeland, Poland  
* [[Radium]] (Ra) – a radioactive metal with glowing properties

These discoveries were made by isolating radioactive elements from the mineral pitchblende.

=== 3. Developed Research in Nuclear Physics ===  
Her work led to a better understanding of atomic structure and the beginning of nuclear science.

== Nobel Prizes ==

* 🏅 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics (shared with Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel)  
  For research on radioactivity.

* 🏅 1911 Nobel Prize in Chemistry  
  For discovery and isolation of radium and polonium.

== Legacy and Importance ==

* First female professor at the University of Paris  
* Her work laid the foundation for cancer radiation therapy  
* Developed portable X-ray machines used during World War I  
* Inspired generations of women to pursue science

== Interesting Facts ==

* Marie Curie’s research notebooks are still radioactive today and stored in lead-lined boxes.  
* She named one element (Polonium) after her country, Poland, as a symbol of pride.  
* Her daughter, Irène Joliot-Curie, also won a Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

== Conclusion ==

Marie Curie was not only a brilliant scientist but also a symbol of dedication, courage, and scientific curiosity. Her work changed the world of physics and chemistry forever and continues to inspire students and researchers across the globe.

[[Category:Chemistry]]
[[Category:Physics]]
[[Category:Women in Science]]
[[Category:Nobel Prize Winners]]
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