How Marie Curie's Discovery of Radium Transformed Science, Medicine and the Roles of Women throughout History

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Recommended: Marie Curie is a remarkable woman

Marie Curie is the most influential person in history. Her discovery of radium and its uses in science and technology have grown rapidly throughout history, which has contributed to everything from health science to national security. Medical care and airport security would not be as accurate or efficient without X-ray machines and radiotherapy. Marie Curie’s discovery of radium transformed science, medicine, and the roles of women throughout history. As one of the first female scientists, Marie Curie was influential in expanding roles for women in society.
Marie Curie’s discovery of radium impacted almost every form of science and technology. Without radium, some things we use in our scientific world would not be as effective or even available. “[It’s] used in electricity plants, navy submarines and ships, spacecraft in deep space, and pacemakers” (McClafferty, 115). Besides outer space and medicine, radium is also found in smoke detectors, starters for florescent lights, mantles of gas camping lamps, and welding rods.
X-ray machines make a huge impact in science and medicine. They contain radium and are able to see through, objects big and small. Without x-ray machines, our everyday lives would not be the same. Hospitals use x-ray machines to analyze the anatomy of the human body, as well as to evaluate and diagnose. Before x-ray machines were used in hospitals, doctors would perform surgery to detect injuries in patients. Factories, airports, and manufacturing would be less efficient without the ability to see through objects and analyze problems. “X-rays can tell us about the structure of the world - without X-rays we would not know that our genes are arranged in the spiral-staircase like form of the double-helix” (The Ro...

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McClafferty, Carla Killough. "Legacy." Something out of nothing: Marie Curie and radium. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2006. 114-15.
"Moisture and Density." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency. 13 Apr. 2014 .
"Nuclear Gauge Basics | Nuclear Gauge Manufacturers | APNGA." Nuclear Gauge Basics | Nuclear Gauge Manufacturers | APNGA. 12 Apr. 2014 .
"Radiotherapy ." NHS. 15 Apr. 2014 .
"Table of Contents." TheScienceClassroom. 2013. The Science Classroom. 08 Oct. 2013 .
"X-rays." The Royal Society. Royal Society Wolfson Research. 17 Apr. 2014 .

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