A Brilliant Brain

Marie Curie

1867–1934 — Poland/France

Era: Modern

Brilliance: 10/10 | Stewardship: 9/10 | Composite Index: 90

She refused to patent the process that killed her.

"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood."

Biography

First woman to win a Nobel, only person to win in two different sciences. Coined 'radioactivity,' discovered polonium and radium. Drove mobile Xray units to WWI battlefields. Refused to patent radium isolation. Her notebooks remain radioactive — stored in leadlined boxes.

Key Facts

  • Only person to win Nobels in two different sciences
  • Refused to patent radium isolation
  • Drove X-ray units to WWI battlefields
  • Notebooks still radioactive, stored in lead boxes
  • Discovered polonium and radium

Her notebooks will kill you for another 1,500 years.

Total BrainCoins: 0

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