6 Marie Curie

Marie Curie was a greatscientist. She was born Marja Sklodowska in Warsaw, Poland, in 1867. Both of her parents were teachers. When Marie was only 10 years old, her mother died.

Marie was a very good student. She loved science, math, and languages.She and her sister Bronya wanted to go to college. But in those days, only men could go to college in Poland. The girls had to go to France to study. There was not enough money for both sisters to go. So Marie worked as a teacher in Poland. She sent money to Bronya to pay for medical school in Paris. After Bronya became a doctor, she helped Marie.

When she was 24, Marie became a science student at the Sorbonne, a university in Paris. Even with her sister's help, she did not have much money. She lived in a small room near the college. It had no lights, no water, and no heat. Sometimes Marie only had bread and tea to eat.

Marie studied hard and graduated in 1894. A year later, she married Pierre Curie. He was also a scientist. They worked together for many years. Their most important discovery was radium. Today,doctors use the rays from radium to treat cancer. The Curies won a Nobel Prize for their discovery. This is the highest award for a scientist.Marie Curie was the first woman to receive this award.

When Marie Curie was 39, Pierre died in a road accident. But she continued their work. Curie became the first woman professor in France. In 1911, she won a second Nobel Prize. But years of working with radium ruined her health. She died of cancer in 1934. Her daughter Irene continued Curie's work. She also received a Nobel Prize. Sadly, Irene also got cancer and died young. Both women gave their lives for their work.