Marie Curie: A Trailblazing Life of Science and Sacrifice
Marie Curie: A Trailblazing Life of Science and Sacrifice Early Life and Education Birth Name: Maria Salomea Skłodowska Born: November 7, 1867, in Warsaw, Poland (then under Russian rule). Family: Her father was a math and physics teacher; her mother ran a boarding school but died of tuberculosis when Marie was 10. Struggles: As a woman, she was barred from attending the University of Warsaw, so she enrolled in the "Flying University," a secret Polish institution. Move to Paris: In 1891, she left for France to study at the Sorbonne (University of Paris) , surviving on bread, tea, and sheer determination. Scientific Breakthroughs Discovery of Radioactivity (1896–1898) Inspired by Henri Becquerel’s work on uranium rays, Marie tested other elements. Coined the term "radioactivity." Discovered polonium (named after her homeland, Poland) and radium (f...