MarieCurie(bornMariaSk??odowska;alsoknownasMariaSk??odowska-Curie;November7,1867–July4,1934)wasaphysicistandchemistofPolishupbringingand,subsequently,Frenchcitizenship.Shewasapioneerinthefieldofradioactivity,thefirstandonlypersonhonoredwithNobelPrizesintwodifferentsciences,andthefirstfemaleprofessorattheUniversityofParis.

　　ShewasborninWarsaw,VistulanCountry,RussianEmpire,andlivedthereuntilshewas24.In1891shefollowedhereldersisterBronis??awatostudyinParis,wheresheobtainedherhigherdegreesandconductedherscientificwork.ShefoundedtheCurieInstitutesinParisandWarsaw.Shewasthewifeoffellow-Nobel-laureatePierreCurieandthemotherofathirdNobellaureate,IrèneJoliot-Curie.

　　WhileanactivelyloyalFrenchcitizen,sheneverlosthersenseofPolishidentity.MadameCurienamedthefirstnewchemicalelementthatshediscovered(1898)"polonium"forhernativecountry,[1]andin1932shefoundedaRadiumInstitute(nowtheMariaSk??odowska-CurieInstituteofOncology)inherhometown,Warsaw,headedbyherphysician-sisterBronis??awa.