Marie Curie: the great Madame Curie, pioneer of the invisible

Double Nobel Prize — Physics (1903) and Chemistry (1911)

Discoverer of polonium and radium · Coined the term “radioactivity”

Few scientific figures have defined an era. Marie Skłodowska-Curie did. With extraordinary patience and rigor, she turned a physical curiosity into a new field of knowledge: radioactivity. She proved that radiation was an intrinsic property of certain atoms, isolated radium with unprecedented purity, and discovered polonium, opening the door to modern nuclear physics and radiochemistry.

A mind that measured the invisible

In times without sophisticated instruments, Curie perfected measurement methods and purification protocols that remain a reference today. Her work was not only theoretical: during World War I, she promoted the “petites Curies”, mobile radiography units that saved thousands of lives.

Why it still matters

• New vision of the atom: she showed that it could transform, overturning the idea of its indivisibility.
• Language and standards: she coined “radioactivity” and established laboratory practices (dosimetry, quality control) still in use today.
• Health impact: she laid the foundations for imaging diagnostics, radiotherapy and, over time, nuclear medicine.

A legacy that never fades

More than a century later, the legacy of Madame Curie shines from basic research to clinical applications, and her example continues to inspire new generations of scientists. Her life reminds us that rigor, courage, and service can change history.

With science, from CymitQuimica

At CymitQuimica we support laboratories with:

• Stable isotopes and isotopically labeled compounds (e.g., ¹³C, ¹⁵N, ²H/Deuterium, ¹⁸O) for tracers, metabolomics, and quantification by LC/GC-MS.
• Analytical standards and certified reference materials (CRM) for calibration and quality control.
• Reagents, analytical materials, and consumables for high-demand projects.

Explore our catalog or tell us about your protocol: we’ll help you find the isotope or standard that best fits your method.