The Elements of Marie Curie: how the glow of radium lit a path for women in science

As regular viewers of Pointless we often encounter questions relating to the often weird and wonderful names on  the Periodic Table. The Elements of Marie Curie by Dava Sobel explains how some of the elements came to be named and the work that went into identifying many of the elements relating to radioactivity. At school we learned a little about Marie Curie and her work. One year I was even awarded a copy of the book, Men and Women Behind the Atom by Sarah Reidman as a school prize. 

In this book, the author provides not just a biography of the life of Marie Curie and her family but also an introduction to the science that captured Marie's imagination. As well as an introduction to an aspect of science, The Elements of Marie Curie provides an important insight into the scientific community at that time which was run by men. Women were barely tolerated working in science areas except in minor roles. Marie Curie worked hard to change this philosophy, not just in the original scientific work that she undertook but also through the employment and encouragement of women in senior roles in her laboratories. 

For many years Marie Curie and her husband worked together on their scientific projects. However after Pierre's death Marie took charge of their laboratory and ensured that each year talented women worked with her investigating radioactivity and its possible uses. During the First World War Marie promoted the use of X-rays to isolate metal in the bodies of wounded soldiers.

In 1903, Pierre Curie, Marie Curie and Henri Becquerel won the Nobel Prize for Physics for their initial work with radioactivity. In 1911 Marie won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry for the discovery of radium and polonium. In 1935 Marie and Pierre's daughter, Irene Joliot-Curie and her husband, Frederick Joliot-Curie jointly won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry.

The Elements of Marie Curie will also appeal to those interested in the social history of the twentieth century. It is definitely a book worth reading. The glossary of chemical terms plus the radioactive decay series and notes at the end of the book are also useful.