[New Book] The Elements of Marie Curie

[Financial News] Dava Sobel, author of Longitude, traces the lives of the women scientists who worked in Marie Curie’s laboratory. The Elements of Marie Curie brings together the achievements of the scientist, who received the Nobel Prize twice, and the growth and independence of the researchers who followed her.
The narrative is divided among four places where research was conducted, and each chapter pairs a person’s name with an element, as in “Manya (hydrogen),” “Marie (iron),” and “Hélène (copper and lithium).” Drawing on records such as letters and memoirs, the book reconstructs their passion for research and experiences of failure, struggles with living expenses and supporting their families, and conflicts between marriage and careers.
Following the experiments and collaborations that continued amid gender discrimination and poor conditions, the book also traces the course of early research into radioactivity. It reflects on Curie’s role in opening up research opportunities for women and highlights the collaboration and labor of the community that supported scientific achievement. Translated by Kim Byeong-sun.

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