Pierre Curie:
Curie, Pierre (1859-1906). French chemist. Conducted researches on piezoelectricity, the magnetic properties of bodies at various temperatures, relations of magnetism, paramagnetism and diamagnetism, etc.; on faculty of School of Physics and Chemistry at Paris (1882), at the Sorbonne (1904); known esp. for work with his wife on radioactivity, for which they were awarded 1903 Nobel prize for physics; m. (1895) Manya SkNodowska, known as Marie (1867-1934), physical chemist, b. Warsaw; began studies at the Sorbonne (1891), receiving doctorate (1904); with husband, investigated radioactivity (a term she coined in 1898), distinguished alpha, beta, and gamma radiation; discovered (1898) polonium and radium. Succeeded husband as professor of general physics at the Sorbonne (1906). Awarded 1911 Nobel prize for chemistry for discovery of polonium and radium and isolation of pure radium. Director of research department of Radium Inst. of U. of Paris (1918-34); organizer of radiological service for hospitals during World War I. Their daughter Irene (1897-1956), physicist, b. Paris; m. (1926) FredericJoliot, shared with him 1935 Nobel prize for chemistry for their synthesis of new radioactive isotopes of various elements. Contributed also to discovery of the neutron and development of nuclear reactors. Director of Radium Institute (1946-56). |
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