Marie
Curie

Marie Skłodowska Curie, born on November 7, 1867, in Warsaw, Poland, was a paragon of tenacity and intellect in a domain largely dominated by men. Overcoming societal and academic obstacles, Curie delved deep into the mysteries of radioactivity, coining the term itself. Along with her husband Pierre, she discovered two new elements—polonium, named after her homeland, and radium. Her groundbreaking work on the properties of these radioactive materials changed the trajectory of scientific research and medical applications.

Curie's unparalleled achievements include being the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the only person to win Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields—physics and chemistry. Her relentless pursuit of knowledge, even in the face of health risks posed by her research, stands as a testament to her dedication. Marie Curie's passing on July 4, 1934, due to complications from prolonged radiation exposure, was a profound loss, but her legacy as a trailblazing scientist and inspiration to countless women in STEM endures.