Author: Eve Curie
Marie and Pierre had immediate chemistry. Both were devoted scientists, and their research interests perfectly complemented each other. They spent every day in the lab together, and every night hugging each other tight. They were deeply in love, married in July 1895, and eventually had two children. They worked together obsessively and became science’s ultimate power couple. But although they worked together, it was Pierre who got official credit for their discoveries. But the Academy of Science’s deeply entrenched sexism would soon put their love to the test.
In her doctoral research, it was Marie who discovered that radioactivity is an atomic property – but Pierre got all the credit. The two published the paper together, which got Pierre a teaching position at the polytechnic college in Paris. Marie went empty-handed. After all, she was just a young, Polish immigrant – and a woman to boot. Of course it was the husband who had made such a groundbreaking discovery!
Marie was deeply upset by the lack of recognition. But she never blamed Pierre.
The Curies’ joint research also became a real test of endurance. They had to heat and stir tons of pitchblende in huge cauldrons to obtain just a few milligrams of radium. Earlier, Marie had already deduced that the high radioactivity of the pitchblende must be caused by a still unknown element – now they just had to isolate it to prove her hypothesis.
At the time, there was a race among scientists to isolate new elements – and the Curies took up the challenge with single-minded gusto. They eventually discovered two elements together.
But it didn’t take long for their experiments to start affecting their health. The two constantly had inflamed fingertips – a harbinger of radiation poisoning, which was still unknown at the time.
But every time Pierre passed by Marie, bent over some sample in the lab, he stroked her hair lightly and she gave him a happy look. Their love for each other and for research was so strong that all other problems faded into the background.
Opmerkingen