Radioactivity Collection

Marie Curie
Born in Poland in 1867, after receiving her secondary education she worked as a governess for eight years. Marie moved to Paris and read Physics at the Sorbonne

Marie Curie - Nobel Prize-winning Polish Scientist
Marie Curie (1867-1934) - Polish Scientist, twice the recipient of the Nobel Prize for her pioneering research on radioactivity, the first woman Nobel winner. Date: 1911

1957 nuclear test: Fall-out
Fallout: The sinister and prolonged after-effect of nuclear explosions: a drawing illustrating some characteristics of this haunting phenomenon.An illustration by special Illustrated London News

Marie Curie, caricature
Marie Curie. Caricature of the Polish chemist Marie Curie (1867-1934), holding a round bottomed flask. Curie is known for her pioneering early work with radioactivity

Marie Curie, Polish-French physicist
Marie Curie (1867-1934, nee Marya Sklodowska), Polish-French physicist. With her husband Pierre, she isolated the radioactive elements polonium and radium in 1898

Marie and Pierre Curie, French physicists
Marie and Pierre Curie. Marie Curie (1867-1934, nee Marya Sklodowska), was born in Poland. In 1891 she became a student at the Sorbonne university in Paris, France

James Van Allen, US astrophysicist
James Van Allen (1914-2006), US astrophysicist, holding a model of the rocket launcher Juno 1 with the satellite Explorer 1 on the nose cone

Pierre and Marie Curie in their Laboratory, pub. 1898 (photograph). Pierre Curie (1859-1906); Marie Curie (1867-1934); discovered Radium in 1898;

Frederic Joliot and Irene Joliot-Curie, French scientists, 1935. Joliot (1900-1958) became assistant to Marie Curie in 1925

An engraving depicting a gold-leaf electroscope (Bennett's electroscope), 19th century
5311599 An engraving depicting a gold-leaf electroscope (Bennett's electroscope), 19th century; (add.info.: Date: 1878); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Marie Sklowdowska Curie, who twice won the Nobel Prize: 1903 and 1911
NWI4949439 Marie Sklowdowska Curie, who twice won the Nobel Prize: 1903 and 1911.; (add.info.: Marie Sklowdowska Curie, who twice won the Nobel Prize)

Marie Curie
5304791 Marie Curie.; (add.info.: Photographic portrait of Marie Curie (1867-1934) a Polish and naturalized-French physicist, chemist and the first female Nobel Prize winner. Dated 20th Century

High voltage equipment used by Pierre and Marie Curie to investigate the electrical conductivity of air exposed to
537807 High voltage equipment used by Pierre and Marie Curie to investigate the electrical conductivity of air exposed to radium

Paths of alpha, beta, and gamma rays from a radium sample placed between poles of electromagnet
536622 Paths of alpha, beta, and gamma rays from a radium sample placed between poles of electromagnet, as used in Curies' laboratory, Paris, 1904; (add.info.: Paths of alpha, beta)

The office of Pierre Curie
5304785 The office of Pierre Curie.; (add.info.: Photograph of the office of Pierre Curie (1859-1906) a French physicist, a pioneer in crystallography, magnetism, piezoelectricity and radioactivity

Marie Curie
5304783 Marie Curie.; (add.info.: Early Photographic portrait of Marie Curie (1867-1934) a Polish and naturalized-French physicist, chemist and the first female Nobel Prize winner

Pierre Curie
5304802 Pierre Curie.; (add.info.: Photograph of Pierre Curie (1859-1906) a French physicist, a pioneer in crystallography, magnetism, piezoelectricity and radioactivity

A corner of Pierre and Marie Curie's laboratory, Paris. Engraving published 1904
537801 A corner of Pierre and Marie Curie's laboratory, Paris. Engraving published 1904; (add.info.: A corner of Pierre and Marie Curie's laboratory, Paris)

Ernest Rutherford, Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry, 1908
NWI4949394 Ernest Rutherford, Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry, 1908.; (add.info.: Ernest Rutherford, Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry, 1908.); Photo © North Wind Pictures.

Part of Pierre and Marie Curie's laboratory, Paris. Engraving published 1904
537846 Part of Pierre and Marie Curie's laboratory, Paris. Engraving published 1904.; (add.info.: Part of Pierre and Marie Curie's laboratory, Paris)

Marie Curie in her Laboratory
5304817 Marie Curie in her Laboratory.; (add.info.: Photograph of Marie Curie (1867-1934) a Polish and naturalized-French physicist, chemist and the first female Nobel Prize winner

Electroscope fitted with microscope, used in the Curies' laboratory, Paris, to detect presence of radioactivity
537804 Electroscope fitted with microscope, used in the Curies' laboratory, Paris, to detect presence of radioactivity

Marie Curie-Skolodowska with Pierre Curie
Undated picture showing Marie Curie-Skolodowska with Pierre Curie, working in their laboratory in Paris. Marie Curie and her husband, the French physicist, Pierre Curie

Marie Curie with Dean Pegram
3779332 Marie Curie with Dean Pegram; (add.info.: Marie Curie with Dean Pegram, Dean of the School of Engineering at Columbia University, 1921)

Marie Curie with her brother and sisters
3779325 Marie Curie with her brother and sisters; (add.info.: Marie Curie with her brother and sisters in Warsaw, 1912. From left to right is Marie Curie, Mme Szalay, Mme Dluska and M. Sklodovska)

Marie Curie in her office
3779327 Marie Curie in her office; (add.info.: Marie Curie in her office at the Radium Institute, Paris 1925. MC: Polish-born French physicist and pioneer in radioactivity)

Marie Curie with her daughters Irene and Eve
3779330 Marie Curie with her daughters Irene and Eve; (add.info.: Marie Curie with her daughters Irene and Eve, 1908. MC: Polish-born French physicist and pioneer in radioactivity)

Marie Curie (1867 - 1934) Polish and naturalized-French physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity

Marie Sklodowska Curie (1867-1934) Polish-born French physicist. From a picture published 1910
539410 Marie Sklodowska Curie (1867-1934) Polish-born French physicist. From a picture published 1910 by Pirou, Eugene (fl.1884-1925); Universal History Archive/UIG

Marie Curie (1867-1934), Polish physicist and chemist (b / w photo)
817314 Marie Curie (1867-1934), Polish physicist and chemist (b/w photo) by Manuel, Henri (1874-1947); Private Collection; (add.info.: Marie Curie (1867-1934)

Illustration by Achille Lemot (1846-1909) in Le Pelerin, 22 / 09 / 07 - Modernite, Automobile
ICA4853415 Illustration by Achille Lemot (1846-1909) in Le Pelerin, 22/09/07 - Modernite, Automobile, Religion Faith, Atheism, Progres, Telegraph, Wireless Telegraphy, Telephone, Radium

Cover of the Treat de radioactivite de Madame Curie, published following the discovery of
GIA4733705 Cover of the Treat de radioactivite de Madame Curie, published following the discovery of radium, Paris 1910. by Anonymous; Private Collection; (add.info)

Radium: extraction of emanation. Anonymous illustration of 1925. Private collection
XEE4141014 Radium: extraction of emanation. Anonymous illustration of 1925. Private collection. by Anonymous; Private Collection; (add.info.: Radium: extraction of emanation)

Pierre Curie chatting with Sir William Ramsay (litho)
STC335871 Pierre Curie chatting with Sir William Ramsay (litho) by English School; Private Collection; (add.info.: Pierre Curie (1859-1906)

Futuredays: A Nineteenth Century Vision of the Year 2000 Series: Radium heating
XEE4105726 Futuredays: A Nineteenth Century Vision of the Year 2000 Series: Radium heating. Chromolithography by Villemard, 1910 by French School

Radium: radium rays. Anonymous illustration from 1925. Private collection
XEE4141145 Radium: radium rays. Anonymous illustration from 1925. Private collection. by Anonymous; Private Collection; (add.info.: Radium: radium rays. Anonymous illustration from 1925)

Radium: desintegration of radium. Anonymous illustration of 1925. Private collection
XEE4141011 Radium: desintegration of radium. Anonymous illustration of 1925. Private collection. by Anonymous; Private Collection; (add.info.: Radium: desintegration of radium)

Portrait of Pierre Curie (1859-1906) (sepia photo)
XZO116038 Portrait of Pierre Curie (1859-1906) (sepia photo) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; French, out of copyright

Ionisation chamber devised by Marie Curie (1867-1934) c. 1897
CHT236040 Ionisation chamber devised by Marie Curie (1867-1934) c.1897 by French School, (19th century); Institut de Radium, Paris, France; eArchives Charmet; French, out of copyright

M Sklodovski and his three daughters (b / w photo)
3650387 M Sklodovski and his three daughters (b/w photo) by European Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: M Sklodovski and his three daughters)

Pierre Curie (1859-1906) teaching about radium at the Sorbonne, 1906 (b / w photo)
CHT237253 Pierre Curie (1859-1906) teaching about radium at the Sorbonne, 1906 (b/w photo) by French Photographer, (20th century); Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris

Portrait of Marie Curie (1867-1934) (sepia photo)
XZO116039 Portrait of Marie Curie (1867-1934) (sepia photo) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; French, out of copyright

Radioactivity measurement - engraving, 20th century
LSE4105118 Radioactivity measurement - engraving, 20th century by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Radioactivity measurement - engraving)

Radium: discovered radium by Pierre (1859-1906) and Marie Curie (1867-1934) in 1898
XEE4141018 Radium: discovered radium by Pierre (1859-1906) and Marie Curie (1867-1934) in 1898. Anonymous illustration from 1925. Private collection

Electrometer devised by Marie Curie (1867-1934) 1897 (metal)
CHT236033 Electrometer devised by Marie Curie (1867-1934) 1897 (metal) by French School, (19th century); Institut de Radium, Paris, France; eArchives Charmet; French, out of copyright

Pierre (1859-1906) and Marie Curie (1867-1934) in their laboratory, c. 1903 (b / w photo)
CHT237251 Pierre (1859-1906) and Marie Curie (1867-1934) in their laboratory, c.1903 (b/w photo) by French Photographer, (20th century); Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris

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"Unveiling the Mysteries of Radioactivity: Marie Curie's Nobel Prize-Winning Journey" Step into the world of radioactivity, where groundbreaking discoveries and scientific brilliance have shaped our understanding of this powerful force. At its core stands Marie Curie, a Polish-French physicist whose unwavering dedication revolutionized the field. Marie Curie, a name synonymous with scientific excellence, became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize in 1903. Her relentless pursuit led her to uncover two radioactive elements - polonium and radium - forever changing our perception of matter's fundamental properties. In 1957, as nuclear tests echoed across the globe, their fallout cast an ominous shadow over humanity. Yet amidst this uncertainty emerged James Van Allen, a US astrophysicist who discovered Earth's radiation belts that bear his name today. His findings shed light on how radioactivity permeates not only our planet but also extends far beyond. The laboratory was Marie and Pierre Curie's sanctuary; captured in a captivating photograph from 1898, it showcases their tireless efforts to unravel nature's secrets. Together as French physicists, they pioneered research on radioactivity and laid the foundation for future generations. Their legacy continued through Frederic Joliot and Irene Joliot-Curie – French scientists who followed in Marie Curie's footsteps by synthesizing new radioactive isotopes in 1935. Their contributions further propelled mankind towards harnessing this enigmatic energy for medical advancements. However, radioactivity is not without its dangers. The haunting image of contaminated buildings being hosed down in Prepyate serves as a stark reminder of Chernobyl’s catastrophic nuclear disaster in 1986 – an event that highlighted both the immense power and devastating consequences associated with uncontrolled exposure to radiation. Beyond terrestrial boundaries lies another realm influenced by radioactivity – our very own Sun.