Volume 15, Number 1 June, 1999

MEDICAL PHYSICS WORLD

Editor's Corner Maria Sklodowska-Curie's Achievements-Part III (Continued from MPW Vol. 14 (1), 1998, Page 14 and MPW Vol. 14 (2), 1998, page 18) The Second Stage: Large Scale Research Radioactivity which, in its initial stage, was closely related to physics and chemistry, in the later period found many applications in other branches of science. The development of the new field induced the French government to establish a specialized research laboratory in Paris. The Radium Institute was to include two research laboratories: (1) physico-chemical laboratory administered by the Faculty of Science of the University of Paris, and (2) biological and medical laboratory administered by the Pasteur Institute. The faculty of science of the Sorbonne assigned the organization of the physico-chemical facility, to be later named Laboratoire Pierre Curie, to Maria Curie. The year 1910 saw the publication of Maria Curie's famous book "The treatise of radioactivity" in two volumes. This treatise remained for many years a valuable textbook for young researchers and, to a great extent, contributed to the rapid development of the science of radioactivity. In 1911, Maria Curie was awarded the second Nobel prize in chemistry for her work in chemistry of radioactive substances. On Maria Curie's suggestion a unit of the quantity of radioactive sunstances was established, and named "curie" in honor of her. It was defined as the activity of the emanation remaining in equilibrium with 1 gram of radium. A primary international standard was placed at the Bureau International des Poids et Measures at Sevres, a secondary standard was conveyed to the Radium Institute in Vienna. In mid 1914, the construction of the Laboratoire Curie was complete. However, the outbreak of World War I delayed its occupation. In this situation, Maria took the decision to organize and operate a fleet of radiological ambulances to provide service at the various fronts, and set up radiological units in all military hospitals, where all the sick and wounded could be examined with x-rays. In some cases, she even drove an ambulance herself being exposed to direct hazard from military activities. It was that great devotion and competent work in Red Cross that helped her to earn recognition and respect from all Frenchmen. In her book "radiology in the war" she writes at length about the organization of the radiological health services. The Third Stage: Triumph and Glory... The installation of the laboratory in a new place proceeded under extreme difficult conditions with a lack of adequate financial resources and skilled personnel. The laboratory did not start regular operation until two years after the end of the war. 40 From 1920, the Radium Institute came under the patronage of the Curie-Carnegie Foundation, which considerably improved the material status of the physics laboratory at the Institute. Consequently, in 1925, the Curie Laboratory was enlarged and gained widespread reputation. In the postwar period, Maria returned to the fundamental questions involving the production of strong radioactive sources. At the end of 1921, Maria Curie stopped her research since she had been invited to America. There, accompanied by her two daughters, she made a triumphant journey. President Warren G. Harding presented her with a gram of radium bought as a contribution from American women. That amount of precious radium received as a gift beyond any dreams of many laboratories, she offered for social services and sciences in France. In view of the very extensive scope of the work done at the Radium Institute it became essential to set up a special department to perform measures of and control over radioactive substances intended for research purposes. This department would also meet the requirements of the ever expanding medical therapeutic industry which called for expertise, determinations of the quantity and quality of radioactive substances in minerals, mineral waters and in various drugs. In 1922, Irene Curie, Maria's daughter, joined the scientific staff of the Radium Institute. She published her doctoral thesis "On the properties of alpha radiation from polonium" in 1925. Later, in 1929, Maria and Irene Curie measured the decay constant of RaD. Irene Curie was joined by Frederic Joliot. Like Pierre and Maria Curie, they jointly published their works. The history repeated itself. Mutually shared interests and aims, boundless devotion for science, all these factors contributed to the great research success of both Irene and Frederic Joliot-Curie. The great discovery made by the Joliot-Curies at the Radium Institute in the last year of Maria Curie's life was to show that a certain type of nuclear transmutation lead to the formation of radioactive species. Due to their discovery of artificial radioactivity and the synthesis of new radioactive elements, the Joliot-Curies acquired great fame and repute the world over. The possibilities were revealed of using artifically produced radioactive elements to follow chemical changes and physiological processes or in applications to medical therapy procedures. Albert Einstein, when he was once in Paris, remarked that "Madame Curie was fortunate to see her work to be continued by her daughter, Irene Curie, who was her equal in talent and scientific activity." In 1934, Maria Curie investigated the optical spectrum of actinium. At that time she caught a cold, but, against doctor's recommendations, she did not want to stop her laboratory work. Unfortunately, Maria's incessant and intensive research effort, and her continuous presence at the Institute, had all contributed to serious complications and total exhaustion of her body. This time, she had to stop her work and leave for a health resort in the mountains. On July 6, 1934, she died of plastic anemia, the result of long exposure to ionizing radiation. Maria Curie's last great work was her comprehensive scientific treatise "Radioactivity." It was her third book. The Institute of Radium in Paris rose to a leading position in the development of the science of radioactivity of matter and the structure of the atomic nucleus thanks to Maria Curie's own research and intensive and ceaseless efforts leading to continuous improvements in research and measuring methods and techniques. In recognition of her great merits Maria Curie was included among the members of numerous Academies of various countries and 107 French and foreign scientific societies and associations. Her name and her creation--the Radium Institute in Paris--will remain for ever in the memory of all scientists and researchers. Adoped from: Polish Journal of Medical Physics and Engineering, Vol. 3, No. 4 (10), 1997. Article by: Cezary Anatol Pawlowski. 14 MPW Vol. 15 (1), June, 1999 back to index