Radiant Innovators: The Inspiring Legacy of Marie and Irene Curie

The duo that dared

The duo that dreamed

The duo that discovered

“Not like Homer would I write,

Not like Dante if I might,

Not like Shakespeare at his best,

Not like Goethe or the rest,

Like myself, however small,

Like myself, or not at all.”

William Allingham

Article By: Mehak K. Saggu

And it began. Irene threw open the van doors, fiercely springing into action, and started guiding wounded soldiers inside. It was the battlefield of World War I. Marie had designed the special “Little Curie” vans to hold X-Ray machines in the back, along with an examination table, some photographic darkroom equipment, and a dynamo—an electrical generator—so they would have enough electricity to aid in developing the X-Rays. From furnishing mobile radiology units for the frontlines, to training 150 women to operate X-Ray machines on the battlefield, all the way to overseeing the construction of 200 radiological rooms at field hospitals, the determined mother-daughter duo successfully saved over a million lives.

But wait-wait-wait, this takes play way into the story. Let’s dial back a little.

In the year of 1867, a little girl named Maria was born in Warsaw, Poland. Maria Sklodowska. The daughter of two well-known teachers, the youngest of five children, Maria loved to learn. Picking up reading and writing at an early age, she especially fell in love with books about science.

In a time when girls in Poland were discouraged from pursuing an education beyond learning domestic skills, Maria's determination to challenge societal norms and pursue her dreams was nothing short of extraordinary. Along with her sister, she devised a plan to attend the university in France, which was among the first to admit women. Maria's sister would attend the university with the help of Maria's earnings as a governess, and, in return, Maria's sister would support her after graduation. It took six long years, but when Maria's sister graduated and became a doctor, Maria moved to France, changed her name to Marie to assimilate into the culture, and immersed herself in the study of science, reading and writing incessantly. She was thrilled.

It was there that Marie met Pierre Curie, a Professor of physics, who shared her passion for two recent scientific discoveries: a kind of electromagnetic wave called an X-Ray and a new invisible ray that came out of an element called uranium. Together, they explored the mysteries of X-rays and radiation emanating from uranium. Their shared passion for science and the desire to uncover the mysteries behind the rays, led to endless conversations and eventually, love. They got married and used their wedding money to purchase matching bicycles for their outdoorsy adventures, even though most of their time was spent in a small, dimly lit laboratory. This lab, made out of an old shed, was filled with pots of bubbling chemicals and sharp acidic smells.

Amidst a sea of jars, each containing a vibrant array of colored powders and crystals, Maria and Pierre toil tirelessly in their pursuit of knowledge. Braving the treacherous and volatile landscape of chemical experimentation, they persist in their dangerous work, breathing in hazardous gases and enduring burns and blisters, all in the name of discovering something truly groundbreaking.

Despite the danger, their unwavering commitment to the task at hand never wavered. Driven by an unshakeable belief that they were on the cusp of a major breakthrough, they persisted through the pain, until finally, their perseverance was rewarded. Through their tireless efforts, Marie and Pierre succeeded in discovering not one, but two new elements, which they aptly named polonium, after Maria’s homeland of Poland and radium, for it gave off such strong rays. Their pioneering work in the field of radioactivity opened up a whole new world of possibilities, revealing the many different ways in which energy can be released and harnessed.

Their contributions did not go unnoticed, and in recognition of their remarkable achievements, they were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics - an honour that had previously eluded women for centuries. That day, Marie made history as the first woman ever to receive this prestigious award.

Even as they pursued their groundbreaking research, Marie and Pierre also found time to build a family together. And amidst the flurry of their lab work and scientific breakthroughs, their daughter Irene was born. Though often left alone due to her parents' demanding schedules, Irene found solace and companionship in her loving Grandpa Eugene. Together, they went on outdoor expeditions, read poetry, and even debated politics. Grandpa Eugene helped Irene feel intelligent and confident, and the two became close pals.

When Irene and her younger sister Eve started school, their mother, Marie, disheartened by the limitations of the public school system, determined to provide her daughters with the best possible education. Marie was fortunate in that her acquaintances were all geniuses and scholars. They established the Cooperative, a home-based school that offered a world-class education. As a result, Irene received a world-class education without ever needing to adorn a rucksack.

Marie's commitment to her children's growth and development extended beyond their intellectual pursuits. She was a firm believer in taking risks and pushing oneself to the limits, and she made sure her girls were always active and engaged in a variety of challenging activities, including horse riding, hiking, swimming, skiing and acrobatics. When war broke out, Marie put aside her laboratory research and told her girls that she needed to figure out a way to help their country get through this terrible period. Recognizing the potential of X-rays to save lives, she devised a plan to bring portable X-ray machines to the front lines of battle, providing critical medical care to wounded soldiers.

“I too want to join!” said Irene. Her daughter Irene, though just 17 and still a university student, was eager to join her mother in this endeavor, even going so far as to take a nursing course to prepare herself for the grueling work ahead.

Meanwhile, Marie lobbied the French government for funding and equipment. She persuaded wealthy friends to contribute cars and car dealerships to convert their vehicles into vans. Then she obtained all of the necessary equipment, such as X-ray machines, generators, and examination tables. She also trained a dedicated cadre of nurses to accompany her. Marie's first fleet of mobile medical vans, dubbed the petite cures, was ready in October. She and Irene made certain that Eve was well-cared for at home. Then they piled into their blue van and drove off into the unknown.

As they arrived at the battlefront and flung open the van doors, a flood of wounded soldiers descended upon them day and night. Yet, Marie and Irene were undaunted, driven by a sense of purpose and the knowledge that their work was making a real difference in the lives of wounded soldiers. Day and night, they labored tirelessly, using their skills and expertise to save lives and ease the suffering of those who had been injured in battle.

It was grueling work, for sure, but for Marie and Irene, it was also exhilarating, a chance to put their knowledge and skills to use in a way that truly mattered. And as they worked, they knew that they were making a real difference, helping to save lives and bring comfort to those who had been wounded in the service of their country. Using their X-ray machines, they quickly and painlessly assessed injuries, revealing broken bones and shrapnel lodged within the bodies of the wounded.

Dependent upon each other not only for their intellect, but also for moral support, Marie and Irene formed an unbreakable bond during their time on the battlefield. After the war ended, Irene completed her degree in mathematics and physics and joined Marie's own scientific institute - the Radium Institute - where they researched ways to harness radioactivity to cure the sick. With a team of over three dozen researchers, they explored different avenues to diagnose and shrink cancer cells.

One day, Marie asked Irene to train a new member of their laboratory team - Frederic, a chemical engineer. Irene and Frederic had a lot in common, and they got along great. Soon after, they married and began conducting research together, exactly as Maria and Pierre had done years before. Both Irene and Frederic were enthusiastic about the use of radioactive materials in medicine. They were certain that radiation might be used to develop a variety of new treatments. Working together, they achieved a significant breakthrough - the ability to artificially make atoms radioactive. As Irene handed her mother a test tube filled with newly radioactive phosphorus, Marie beamed with pride.With this accomplishment, they could create countless new medical treatments.

Unfortunately, Marie and Irene's lives were tragically cut short, likely due to their exposure to radioactive materials without adequate protection. Nonetheless, their legacy lives on. Eve, Irene's daughter, wrote a moving biography of her mother and Marie's important work. Today, thanks to their boundless curiosity and determination, radiation and radioactive treatments are used worldwide to save countless lives. Between the two of them, Marie and Irene were awarded four Nobel prizes for their discoveries. They even opened a hospital run by and for women, inspiring each other and all of us that nothing is impossible if we approach life with a sense of curiosity, bravery, and tenacity.

From the daring duo who challenged societal norms to pursue their dreams, to the determined mother and daughter who saved over a million lives on the battlefield, Marie and Irene Curie's legacy of perseverance and groundbreaking discoveries continue to inspire. Their unwavering commitment to the pursuit of knowledge and their willingness to take risks in the face of danger, exemplify the human spirit's capacity to achieve what it sets its mind to. They remind us that no dream is too big and no obstacle too great for those who dare, for those who dare to dream, and for those who dare to discover, for they make their mark on the world,

like themselves,

however small,

like themselves,

or not at all.

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References:

1. Marie and Pierre Curie and the discovery of polonium and radium. NobelPrize.org. (n.d.). Retrieved April 8, 2023, from https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/themes/marie-and-pierre-curie-and-the-discovery-of-polonium-and-radium/

2. Service, S. N. (2017, November 14). Remembering science's most inspirational woman. The Statesman. Retrieved April 8, 2023, from https://www.thestatesman.com/opinion/remembering-sciences-inspirational-woman-1502528346.html

3. The nobel prize: Women who changed science: Irene Joliot-Curie. The official website of the Nobel Prize - NobelPrize.org. (n.d.). Retrieved April 8, 2023, from https://www.nobelprize.org/womenwhochangedscience/stories/irene-joliot-curie

4. Wikimedia Foundation. (2023, April 1). Marie Curie. Wikipedia. Retrieved April 8, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Curie

5. Wikimedia Foundation. (2023, April 7). Irène Joliot-Curie. Wikipedia. Retrieved April 8, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ir%C3%A8ne_Joliot-Curie