Marie Curie was a pioneering scientist and the first woman to be awarded a Nobel Prize, as well as the first person to win two Nobel Prizes in different fields. She was born Maria Salomea Skłodowska on November 7, 1867, in Warsaw, Poland, which was then part of the Russian Empire. She was the youngest of five children, and her parents were both teachers.

Marie was a brilliant student, but as a woman, she faced significant obstacles in pursuing higher education in Poland. In 1891, she moved to Paris, where she studied physics, chemistry, and mathematics at the Sorbonne. In 1895, she married Pierre Curie, a fellow scientist, and the couple had two daughters, Irène and Ève.

Marie's most famous work was in the field of radioactivity. She discovered the elements radium and polonium, and she coined the term "radioactivity" to describe the phenomenon of certain elements emitting energy in the form of radiation. Her work was groundbreaking, but it also posed significant health risks, and she and Pierre both suffered from radiation exposure.

In 1903, Marie and Pierre shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with another scientist, Henri Becquerel, for their work on radioactivity. Marie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. In 1911, she won a second Nobel Prize, this time in Chemistry, for her discovery of radium and polonium.

Marie's personal life was marked by tragedy. Her husband Pierre died in a tragic accident in 1906, and her daughter Irène also went on to become a Nobel Prize-winning scientist but died from leukemia due to radiation exposure. Marie herself died of aplastic anemia, likely caused by years of exposure to radiation, on July 4, 1934, in Passy, France.

Marie Curie's legacy is immense. She was a pioneering scientist who broke down barriers for women in science and made groundbreaking discoveries that continue to have an impact today. Her work on radioactivity has led to countless advances in medicine and technology, and her example has inspired generations of scientists to follow in her footsteps.

Marie Curie was born in Warsaw, Poland, in 1867. At that time, Poland was a part of the Russian Empire, and the country was under Russian control. Marie was the youngest of five children in her family, and both of her parents were teachers. Marie was an exceptional student, and her parents encouraged her love of learning.

However, as a woman in Poland, Marie faced significant obstacles in pursuing higher education. The University of Warsaw did not admit women at that time, so she continued her education in an underground "floating university," where she studied physics, chemistry, and mathematics.

In 1891, Marie moved to Paris, France, where she continued her studies in physics, chemistry, and mathematics at the Sorbonne. She struggled with poverty and often went hungry, but her dedication to her studies never wavered. She completed her degree in 1893, and two years later, she married Pierre Curie, another physicist.

Together, Marie and Pierre began to study the phenomenon of radioactivity. They discovered that certain elements, such as uranium, emitted energy in the form of radiation. They named this phenomenon "radioactivity" and began to study it in earnest.

In 1898, Marie and Pierre discovered two new elements, which they named polonium and radium. They were the first to isolate pure radium, which they did by processing tons of pitchblende, a mineral that contained uranium.

Their work on radioactivity was groundbreaking, but it also posed significant health risks. Marie and Pierre both suffered from radiation exposure, and Marie's hands were often burned and blistered from handling radioactive materials.

Despite these risks, Marie continued her research. In 1903, she and Pierre shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with another scientist, Henri Becquerel, for their work on radioactivity. Marie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize.

In 1906, tragedy struck when Pierre was killed in a tragic accident. Marie was devastated but continued her research. She was appointed to Pierre's former position at the Sorbonne, becoming the first woman to teach there.

In 1911, Marie won a second Nobel Prize, this time in Chemistry, for her discovery of radium and polonium. She was the first person to win two Nobel Prizes in different fields.

During World War I, Marie helped to equip ambulances with X-ray machines, which helped to save countless lives. She also founded the Curie Institutes, which continue to conduct research on cancer and other diseases.

Marie's personal life was marked by tragedy. Her daughter Irène also went on to become a Nobel Prize-winning scientist but died from leukemia due to radiation exposure. Marie herself died of aplastic anemia, likely caused by years of exposure to radiation, on July 4, 1934, in Passy, France.

Marie Curie's legacy is immense. She was a pioneering scientist who broke down barriers for women in science and made groundbreaking discoveries that continue to have an impact today. Her work on radioactivity has led to countless advances in medicine and technology, and her example has inspired generations of scientists to follow in her footsteps.