Radioactive Substances

Pioneering scientist and winner of two Nobel Prizes, Marie Curie describes in this interesting firsthand account the painstaking laboratory research that led to her discovery of radium and other radioactive substances. This groundbreaking work in the area of natural radioactivity, done in partnership with her husband, Pierre Curie, proved to be an important milestone in understanding the structure of matter. In 1910, her fundamental treatise on radioactivity was published, and in 1911 she was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry for the isolation of pure radium. Unfortunately, her many years of close work with radioactive substances eventually had deleterious health consequences and finally in 1934, she died of leukaemia. This story of her work, told in her own words, reveals a courageous and dedicated scientist who gave everything for the advance of science.