Discovery of Radium and polonium
With the help of her husband, Pierre, together they discovered polonium, a new radioactive element. They used the mineral pitchblende and quickly discovered not only polonium, but radium as well.
Nobel Prize Winner
Marie Curie was the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize. In her lifetime, she got not one, but two. She was the first scientist to win two Nobel Prizes. Not only that, but she also was the first person to receive to win two Nobel Prizes in two different fields, Chemistry and Physics.
Development of x-rays
During World War l, Marie Curie helped out by using portable X-ray machines. This gave soldiers immediate attention on the battle field. For that reason, they got the nickname, "Little Curies." After the war had ended, Marie raised money to build a hospital and laboratory focusing on radiology. This type of method uses X-rays and radium to treat and cure disease.