Being Marie Curie

A detailed biography shows how the creator of radioactivity used her lab to change the role of women in science, says Chen Ly.

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On November 7, 1867, Marya Salomea Sklodowska was born in Warsaw, which was then part of the Russian Empire. She was the youngest of five children and became known as "Manya" to her family. She was an extremely curious child who learned to read at the age of 4. She developed a strong interest in science, mostly thanks to her father, who was a physics and mathematics teacher. Even so, no one could have guessed that this young girl would grow up to become Marie Curie, one of the most famous and respected scientists of the 20th century. In the book The Elements of Marie Curie: How the glow of radium lit a path for women in science , author Dava Sobel follows Curie’s amazing life journey. Curie’s groundbreaking research on radioactivity—a word that she actually invented herself—placed her at the very front of scientific discovery. However, looking past her academic success, Sobel shows us a picture of a woman with quiet focus, strength, and kindness. These personality traits were built by a lifetime of personal difficulties and deep sadness. By using Curie’s personal letters, as well as stories from her friends, family, and coworkers, Sobel creates a deep and personal look at the woman behind the science. She focuses not only on Curie’s professional victories but also on her human story. This story was made richer by the relationships she built with the people around her. The way the book is organized is unique. Each chapter is named after an important person in Curie’s life—individuals who influenced her life's work or whose lives were changed by knowing her. While the book explores Curie’s relationships with her husband, Pierre, and her Nobel Prize-winning daughter, Irène, Sobel also introduces the less famous women who were part of Curie's world. These include the women she trained, whom Sobel calls her “laboratory daughters.” We meet Irén Götz, who became the first female professor at a university in Hungary. We also learn about Ellen Gleditsch, who measured the half-life of radium and later became the second woman to join the Norwegian Academy of Sciences and Letters. Curie’s commitment to science went far outside the laboratory. During the First World War, she trained women to use mobile X-ray machines, which provided essential medical help to soldiers on the battlefields. After the war, as a leading member of a League of Nations committee, she encouraged scientists from different countries to work together. Both of these activities showed her dedication to using science for the benefit of everyone. It proved that she wasn’t just a highly intelligent researcher, but also a caring leader. Sobel also carefully explores the heavy emotional impact of Curie’s personal life. Her mother and oldest sister died before she turned 10. She also had to face the unexpectedly early death of her supportive husband, Pierre. He was the one who had fought to make sure she received her half of the 1903 Nobel Prize. After he died, Curie had to raise their two young daughters all by herself while continuing her demanding research. In her later years, she suffered from continuous health problems, which were most likely caused by working so closely with radiation. However, her determination never weakened. Because of her hard work, she won Nobel Prizes in two different fields of science: physics and chemistry. She is still the only person in history to have achieved this. The Elements of Marie Curie is much more than just a life story. It is a tribute to a woman who completely changed what was possible for women in science, inspiring future generations to follow in her footsteps. Sobel’s beautiful writing and thoughtful use of personal and historical documents bring Curie back to life. The book offers a complex and detailed picture of a woman whose massive contributions to science were matched by her quiet strength, modesty, and dedication to humanity. This is a must-read book that perfectly captures both her brilliance and the lasting legacy she left on the world.