Marie Curie: Discovery of Radium, 1909

A Partnership

Enduring the hardships of student life on a tight budget and the challenges of catching up to acceptable levels in her chosen subjects required all of Maria's energy, yet in two years she had masters degrees in mathematics and physics, scholarship recognition, and research projects to accomplish

Maria's research required laboratory space and a scientist friend suggested that his French colleague, Pierre Curie—also researching magnetism—could help provide some space. So began the partnership that led to outstanding landmarks in the progress of physical science.

Drawn close by their work, Pierre and Maria (now called Marie in France) were married in June, 1895. In the same year, Pierre's long-time research was rewarded with a doctorate and a professorship.

Lantern Slide. Radium as a Test for Diamond. (475K)

Diamond is unique in being unaffected when subjected to beta and gamma radiation; other minerals produce color. Alpha radiation, with less energy and shorter effective distance, has some effect on diamonds.