Pierre Curie was born to well-educated and intelligent parents on May 15, 1859, in a house facing Jardin des Planets, rue Cuvier in Paris, France. The second son of Dr Eugène Curie, his only brother, Jacques, was three and a half years elder to him.
His father was a physician by profession. His grandfather was also a famous physician, who was established in London, whereas Eugène Curie chose to settle in Paris, working as preparator under Grariollet in the laboratories of the Museum.
Dr. Eugène Curie was a remarkable personality, and could impress those who approached him, with his clear blue eyes, mixture of child-like expression and brilliance. He was a scholar of natural sciences. He was so modest that during a cholera epidemic in 1848, when a quarter of the city was deserted by physicians, he stayed-put there in order to tend the sick. Pierre was highly influenced by his father’s humanistic nature. Dr. Curie wanted to concentrate his life on scientific work, but family responsibilities compelled him to renounce his desire.
Pierre’s mother, Clair Depouilly, was totally devoted to her family. She made the lives of her husband and two sons much comfortable with her loving nature. Always active, she knew very well how to make her simple home attractive and hospitable.
In Pierre words, his parents were ‘exquisite’. The circumstances in which Pierre grew up were modest, in a family close in affection and intellectual interests.
Childhood Days
Pierre spent his childhood within his family circle. Little Pierre was neither sent to school nor to the lycèe (a secondary school in France funded by the state). He received his initial education from his mother and later from his father and brother Jacques.
From his childhood, he was a dreamer and also a bit slow in reacting. Pierre himself admitted often that he was slow in thinking. His biography, written by his wife, the famous scientist Madame Curie mentions, "It is clear that a mind of this kind can hold within itself great future possibilities. But it is no less clear that no system of education has been especially provided by the public school for persons of this intellectual category, which nevertheless includes more representatives than one would believe at first sight."
Pierre loved nature from his early years. He was familiar with the animals and plants of his native place. He could tell which ones would be found in each season of the year in the field and forests, ponds and streams. In particular, the ponds, with the population of frogs, tritons, salamanders, and dragonflies fascinated the young boy. He never hesitated to pick up any object or animal to examine it closely. To observe the object of his interest, to find out the fact and to interpret it correctly – these habits had a decisive influence on Pierre’s development. Always grateful to his parents for giving him total freedom, he developed a taste for natural science wandering through the countryside, collecting plants and animals for his father. He loved to bring back bouquets of wild flowers.
Youth
With age, Pierre’s knowledge of natural history also increased. His father had a good library, which contained many French and foreign language works. The father and son could exchange their thoughts through excellent communication. His father led him from classical studies to general reading of literature and history. He was happy with his son, who had inculcated a profound taste for reading.
Pierre had developed an interest for mathematics and when he reached 14, this interest turned to passion. Fortunately, his education became more sound with the appointment of his new teacher, Professor Bazille. His teachings had a great influence on Pierre, aiding him to master the depth of his faculties and most important, to realize his liking for science.
In a short span, Bazille was deeply attached with his disciple, appreciating and directing his work with the greatest interest. He taught him elementary and advanced mathematics. Pierre was not proficient at Latin, but his teacher helped him master this subject as well. Pierre progressed remarkably in mathematics, and mastered the theory of determinants, a topic of his liking. At such an early age, he undertook to solve an analogous conception, but in three dimensions. Not only this, he made efforts to discover the properties and uses of these ‘cubical determinants’. Such an effort was beyond his powers because of inadequate studies. But they none the less displayed his inventive spirit.
Stepping into a Laboratory
Making rapid progress in mathematics and physics, Pierre received a bachelor’s degree in science at the age of 16. The most difficult stage was surpassed. Now, he had to make efforts to establish himself in the field of science.
Pierre was still young when he began his higher studies in a subject of his choice, physics. During his preparations for the licentiate in the subject, he attended the lectures and laboratory practicals at the Sorbonne. In the School of Pharmacy there, Professor Leroux assisted him in the physics courses.
Meanwhile, he became acquainted with laboratory methods by working with Jacques, his brother. At the age of 18, Pierre obtained his licentiate in physics. Desains, director of the University laboratory, and Mouton, assistant director, noticed the boy’s brilliance. They called up Pierre and appreciated him, appointing him as the laboratory assistant (preparator).
It was a good opportunity for Pierre and during the next five years, he set his feet in experimental research. On the other hand, as he was absorbed in professional duties and research, he missed lectures in higher mathematics. As a result, his further studies in that subject were interrupted. Then, he was exempted from the mandatory military service on a special privilege for being a teacher too.
‘What Shall I Become ?’
Stepping into adulthood, Pierre became a tall, slender young man, with chestnut-colored hair. A shy and reserved person, he visited his brother Jacques during break from duties. They took long walks on the banks of the Seine River. Both excelled at swimming and diving.
Pierre, at times, made solitary excursions. Of meditative nature, he enjoyed wandering around the suburbs of Paris. Describing the days he spent at the countryside, he wrote in his diary, "Oh, what a good time I have passed there in that gracious solitude, so far from the thousand little worrying things that torment me in Paris. No, I do not regret my nights passed in the woods, and my solitary days. If I had the time I would let myself recount all my musings. I would also describe my delicious valley, filled with the perfume of aromatic plants, the beautiful mass of foliage, so fresh and so humid, that hung over the Bièvre, the fairy palace with its colonnades of hops, the stony hills, red with heather, where it was so good to be. Oh I shall remember always with gratitude the forest of the Minière; of all the woods I have seen, it is this one that I have loved most and where I have been happiest. Often in the evening I would start out and ascend again this valley, and I would return with 20 ideas in my head."
This was a very crucial period in Pierre’s life. He felt destined for revealing new scientific truths, but the monotonous life and mundane things around did not allow him to concentrate on some scientific problem. The man, only of 20 years, was troubled not only by professional and social obligations, but also by his inner urges attracting him towards a literary and artistic culture.
He was a man of many tastes. He liked reading akin to his father and even enjoyed the so-called ‘tedious books’. Besides, he loved painting and music, and also attended concerts. He was a poet by heart and few extracts of his poems are still preserved among his papers. However, all his hobbies perhaps interrupted his scientific imagination. He was in doubt, and during the momentary periods of depression, only one question puzzled his mind : "What shall I become ?"
Pierre could not find out his true task. Rather, he felt himself to be an incomplete being. Expressing his emotions, he wrote, "Very rarely have I command of all myself; ordinarily, a part of me sleeps. My poor spirit, are you then so weak that you cannot control my body ? Oh, my thoughts, you count indeed for very little ! I should have the greatest confidence in the power of my imagination to pull me out of the rut, but I greatly fear that my imagination is dead."
Pierre strengthened his will power and began carrying fruitful investigations in the field of science. When many of his age still studying at schools, this ‘highly intelligent’ man was treading on a thorny path of scientific research.
Brother Jacques
At Sorbonne, Pierre Curie carried out his first investigation on the calculation of the wavelength of heat waves. The second work was very important, which he did in collaboration with his brother Jacques – study of the crystals. The Curie brothers discovered piezo-electricity and during the course of their experiments, they were obliged to make an electrometric apparatus and this led to the discovery, which was known in France as the Curie electrometer. It was the result of their common interest in science and co-operation. Jacques was very vivacious, supportive and lively; who aided his brother with much enthusiasm. Their happy and intimate collaboration lasted till 1883, as Jacques was appointed as Maitre de Conferences at the University of Montpelier.
Although, separated from his brother, Pierre maintained the bond of love and confidence, which lasted until his death. During vacations, Jacques would visit Pierre. Both would go for long walks. Pierre wrote in their remniscence, "I have been very happy to pass a little time with my brother. We have been far from all our immediate care, and so isolated by our manner of living that we have not even been able to receive a letter, never knowing one night where we would sleep the next. At times it seemed to me that we had gone back to the days when we lived entirely together. Then we always arrived at the same opinions about all things, with the result that it was no longer necessary for us to speak in order to understand each other. This was all the more astonishing because we differed so entirely in character."
More Comrade, Less Master
Before Jacques’ departure for Montpelier, Pierre received good news that he was selected as Director of Laboratory Work in the School of Physics and Industrial Chemistry in Paris. Pierre soon became popular among his students. He was scarcely elder to them and moreover, his extreme simplicity and congeniality made him more like a comrade rather than a master. Many students chose to become his disciples and some developed a warm friendship with Pierre.
A funny incident took place once, when Pierre was engrossed in explaining some practical to his students. When they were ready to come out of the laboratory, it was too late. The door was already locked from outside. There was no other way out, so all had to climb down from the first floor in a single file, along a pipe that ran near one of the windows !
Becomes Dr. Curie
The first years were full of hardship for Pierre, as he had to handle a large number of students, about 30 of them single-handedly. He took up the challenge and trained the students. In between, he had to take a break from his experimental research to complete his scientific studies and also enriched his knowledge of mathematics.
Now, was a time when he became engrossed in the relation between crystallography and physics returning to experimental research, once again. He had to work under the most trying conditions. He possessed neither fund to support his investigations, nor a laboratory for carrying out his personal research.
After several years, he could get a small annual subvention for his work, thanks to Schützenberger, the earlier director of the laboratory. He could obtain required laboratory material thanks to his superiors. There was an interesting aspect connected with the place where he conducted his research. Pierre carried out most of his experiments in an outside corridor between the laboratory and stairway !
In 1891, he began to conduct his long research on magnetism. After four years of hard work, he could present his Doctoral thesis before the Faculty of Sciences, at the University of Paris. In 1895, he became Dr. Pierre Curie. He established the Curie Law, according to which the coefficient of magnetization of a body feebly magnetized, varies in inverse ratio to the absolute temperature. Pierre was 35, when he released the result of his remarkable work on magnetism.
Now, Pierre was enjoying his growing esteem at France and in foreign countries. The learned societies, including the Society of Physics, Society of Mineralogy and Society of Electricians; began inviting him at their meetings, where Pierre would give speeches on various scientific issues.
The most contentious fact was that even after 15 years of teaching, he was drawing a paltry salary of 300 Francs a months – just about what a skilled worker would receive in a factory.
Pierre – Marie : The Fruitful Combination
Pierre had ruled out love and marriage from his life until he met Marie Sklodowska in the spring of 1894. The girl, with a Polish origins was a beautiful, intelligent and ambitious student, aged 26. She had built for herself a secret world of implacable rigor, dominated by the passion for science.
Marie met Pierre for the first time on a calm evening with a desire to get a workroom facility. At that time, Pierre was 35. He was immediately captivated by Marie and could realize what was unique in her. With gentle tenacity, he developed a friendly relation with the girl.
Marie, at that time, lived in a room on the sixth floor of a house situated near the school. Pierre often came to see her and expressed a sincere sympathy with her student life, as Marie’s room was not so comfortable. He also gave her friendly support. Soon, he began sharing his dream of an existence devoted entirely to scientific research, and asked Marie to share that life.
One day, Marie told him that she was going to her native Polish countryside for few weeks to enjoy her holidays. Pierre seemed upset by the news. He dreamed of Marie to be his wife. He asked Marie : "But you’re coming back in October ? Promise me that you will come back ! If you stay in Poland you can’t possibly continue your studies. You have no right to abandon science now…..". Pierre’s words reflected his love for her, and Marie could feel that when Pierre said : "You have no right to abandon science", he virtually meant, "You have no right to abandon me."
After a momentary silence, Marie raised her eyes at Pierre, and answered : "I believe you are right. I should like to come back very much."
Come October and Pierre’s heart swelled with joy when Marie, keeping her promise, returned to Paris. Their friendship grew more intimate and each realized that he or she would never be able to find a better life partner.
On July 26, 1895, Marie left her lodging in the Rue de Châteaudun happily forever. It was her wedding day with Pierre Curie. In a civil ceremony, Pierre married Marie, as he professed no religion and so also did not she, not practice any. There was no white dress, no golden ring and not even a wedding meal! The newly married couple possessed nothing more than two glittering bicycles, which they brought with the money, sent from a cousin as a marriage gift.
Marie hesitated for more than a year before deciding to marry Pierre. Now, she was Madame Pierre Curie and the wonderful pair would open a new chapter in the history of science.
Soon after marriage, Pierre shifted to a little apartment with three rooms in the Rue de la Glaciére, which was not far from the School of Physics. The first days of their married life were picturesque : The couple roamed the countryside on their bicycles, lunched on bread and cheese, peaches and cherries, seated on the moss of some woodland glade.
Professor Pierre Curie was earning 6,000 Francs a year, and the couple had decided that Pierre should not undertake any supplementary work, at least in the initial days.
The Discovery of Radium
Since his childhood, Pierre had a habit of going out when he liked, sometimes at dawn, sometimes at dusk. It was uncertain whether he would come back in an hour or in three days. It was a unique couple, totally dedicated to their scientific mission.
Soon after marriage, Pierre got engaged in research on crystals, which interested him keenly, and Marie began preparations for the fellowship competition, to obtain a teaching post. Her desire was fulfilled in 1896. The director of the School of Physics, Schützenberger, permitted her to carry out research in the same laboratory with her husband.
The young couple arranged their lives to suit their scientific work and they could live constantly together. Totally engrossed in research, they did not have a spare minute to decorate their little house. They believed in simple living, even refusing the furniture offered by Pierre’s father. For them, a sofa and a chair would be two more objects to dust in the morning and they hadn’t the time. Their treasure comprised two chairs, a white wooden table, on which they kept the books of physics, a petroleum lamp, a bunch of flowers and that was all.
Pierre’s existence tended towards one ideal only: to engross in scientific research by the side of his beloved who also lived for the same mission. He was so engrossed in work, that it was not easy for him to remain idle even though he lacked facilities for work. He would say to Marie, "It seems to me a very long time since we have accomplished anything."
Pierre was now earning 500 Francs a month that was the only source of income, until Marie got her diploma as Fellow of the University which would permit her to teach in France. When she stood first in the examination for a fellowship in Secondary Education, Pierre silently flung his proud, protecting arm around his wife’s neck.
The third year of Pierre’s marriage resulted in a charming baby girl. Very soon after the birth of their daughter Iréne, in September1897, Pierre suffered a great loss in the death of his mother. Then after, they shifted to a house situated on the old fortification of Paris, where Pierre’s father came to live with them. Fortunately, Iréne was taken care of by her grandfather happily, so the scientist couple could give more time to research.
During the following two years, they concentrated on intensive laboratory research on radioactivity. Pierre and Marie’s companionship was, perhaps, the most ideal one as there were no conflicts, no ego-clashes but pure love, dedication and understanding. Pierre was always supportive to his super-intelligent wife and his words show, how completely devoted he was saying, "I think of you who fill my life, and I long for new powers. It seems to me that in concentrating my mind exclusively upon you, as I am doing, that I should succeed in seeing you, and in following what you are doing and that I should be able to make you feel that I am altogether yours at this moment, but the image does not come."
Meanwhile, the Curies were attracted by the publication of the French scientist Henry Becquerel, who had discovered the phenomena of radioactivity. They began to work in order to go beyond the result achieved by Becquerel.
In the second half of 1898, Pierre and Marie were able to announce the discovery of two radioactive substances – Polonium and Radium. It was a major milestone in the history of science. They reported to the Academy of Science and also made a general report on the new radioactive substances and their radiations for the congress of Physics, which met in Paris in 1900. Pierre also published a study of action of magnetic field on radium rays. These reports aroused immense interest among the foreign scientists.
Now, the Curie couple became famous among the scientific circles. But as the development of new science of radioactivity was rapid, they needed helping hands. Towards 1900, Pierre met a young chemist Andre’ Debierne, who had discovered a new radio element actinium, even before Pierre and Marie’s discoveries. Now, their aim was to isolate the radioactive substance in a pure form. In 1902, 45 months after the day on which the Curies declared the probable existence of radium, they finally succeeded in preparing a decigram of pure radium. Radium was spontaneously luminous. Marie was so excited she could only murmur, "Look……Look !"
The four astonished eyes were looking at the pale glimmering, mysterious source of radiation; toward ‘their’ radium. It was the happiest moment in their lives.
The Humane Mission
In 1900, Pierre had an unexpected offer, that of the Chair of Physics in the University of Geneva. The advantages of this position were that the salary was much more and the University, which was eager to secure a scientist of such high repute, had promised a Physics Laboratory adequate to the needs of the Curies. But Pierre had refused the post because he was interested in research in the field of radioactivity and wanted to continue that without interruption.
Meanwhile, Pierre got a better-paid post in form of the Chair of Physics in the physics chemistry and natural history course, known as PCN at Sorbonne. He accepted the appointment, at the same time Marie was given charge of the physics lectures in the Normal School for Girls at Sévres. Thus, they remained in Paris, with their increased income. Even then, their lives were full of hardships. Pierre had to do additional teaching assignment and research work. In spite of these difficulties, Pierre succeeded in his first industrial experiment in 1899. It was the most moving miracle that radium could be used for the well being of human beings. After experimenting on the action of radium on animals and on his own arm, Pierre found that by destroying diseased cells, radium cured growths, tumors and certain forms of cancer. This magnificent discovery of therapeutic method was to be called Curietherapy. French practitioners conducted the first cases of diseased people which met with success, employing tubes of emanation of radium lent by the Curies.
Now, Pierre was looking at the emergence of a new industry – the radium industry. Radium was regularly put on sale and became one of the dearest substances in the world. But this was not an easy task without the couple’s advice. During the first years, the sale of Radium was estimated at 7,50,000 gold Francs each gram !
The Curies’ investigations had started a general scientific movement, and similar work was being undertaken in other nations. During this period, they received many commercial offers, but Pierre maintained a very liberal attitude. He and Marie refused to draw any material profit from their discovery. They didn’t take any copyright and published all the results, processes and preparation method of radium without reserve. Pierre opened his doors for those who were interested in radium industry and was always ready to part with the information regarding it. The great scientist showed the true spirit : "Physicists always publish their researches completely. If our discovery has a commercial future, that is an accident by which we must not profit. And radium is going to be of use in treating disease… It seems to me impossible to take advantage of that… It would be contrary to the scientific spirit."
The Nobel For ‘The Noble’ Couple
And the couple, whose fortunes had fluctuated forever between poverty and fortune, finally received their first honors, which came from England. In June 1903, the Royal Institution officially invited Pierre to lecture on radium. Then in November, the same year, the Royal Society of London announced that the scientist couple was honored by one of its highest awards, the Davy Medal. Marie was not well, so Pierre alone went to England. He returned with a heavy gold medal on which their names were engraved on it.
As if all this was not enough, and truly so, the efforts of Pierre and Marie Curie were truly rewarded on December 10, 1903. On that memorable day, Marie and Pierre Curie were bestowed with a shared Nobel Prize in Physics by the Academy of Science of Stockholm. They shared it with Henri Becquerel. The citation was, in recognition of the extraordinary services they had rendered through their joint researches on the radiation phenomena discovered by Professor Henri Becquerel.
The irony was, neither of the Curies was present at the ceremony. On behalf of them, the French Minister received the diplomas and gold medals presented by the King’s. Both, Pierre and Marie’s health had begun to deteriorate due to radium experiments and overwork. They always liked to ‘live like wild people’, so the fame and constant public attention confused them. Now, the couple were richer in money but had lost their moments of joy. The names of the Curies were now ‘great names’. Pierre was entirely absorbed by scientific thoughts but Marie needed to cease being ‘Madame Curie’ for some time.
Luckily, a diversion came in their life. On December 6, 1904, Marie gave birth to a second child, a daughter with shaggy black hair. Pierre gave her a nice name – Eve. Pierre, an affectionate father, enjoyed the company of his little companions, Iréne and Eve. He carried on serious conversations with his elder daughter, satisfying all her curiosity.
In His Last Days
The man of 45, with great success in France and other countries, Pierre found himself in company of first rank French scientists. Yet, he continued occupying an inferior position of a teacher. People round the world, realizing the situation, began building an opinion in his favor.
Under the influence of such a public demand, the director of the Academy of Paris, L Liard got permission from the Parliament to create a new post at the Sorbonne. Pierre was appointed as a Titular professor of the Faculty of Sciences of Paris during the academic year 1904-05. Eventually, he left the School of Physics, from where he began his successful career. This new chair was not free from difficulties, as it was without a laboratory. Pierre Curie was not ready to work under such conditions. His adamancy finally bore fruit and the new chair was sanctioned with necessary fund for a laboratory and personnel that included a chief of the laboratory, a preparator and a laboratory boy.
The chief of the laboratory work was to be his wife, Marie Curie. Pierre wrote five days before his death, "Madame Curie and I are working to measure radium with precision by the amount of emanation it gives off. That might seem to be nothing, and yet here we have been at it for several months and are only now beginning to obtain regular results."
His words express the essence and the firmness of a union, which would be a unique example in the field of science.
Pierre Curie, a highly esteemed person, surrounded by many visitors, also received many letters demanding for his articles and lectures. He was neither prepared for it, nor accustomed to it. But kindhearted Pierre would never refuse the requests. On the other hand, it meant a constant enervation, fatigue and loss of time. He wanted to spend each and every minute in his research. Despite being very much absorbed in the preparation of his new course and deteriorating health, Pierre continued working in the laboratory. In a letter dated November 7, 1905, written to his friend E. Gouy, he expressed his feelings :
"I begin my course tomorrow but under very bad conditions for the preparation of my experiments. The lecture room is at the Sorbonne, and my laboratory is in the rue Cuvier. Besides, a great number of other courses are given in the same lecture room, and I can use it only one morning for the preparation of my own… I am neither very well, nor very ill; but I am easily fatigued, and I have left but very little capacity for work. My wife, on the contrary leads a very active life, between her children, the school at Séveres and the laboratory…"
In 1906, Pierre quite ill and tired, went with his family to spend Easter in the Chevreuse Valley. These days were the last sweet memory of his life. Under the mild sun, he amused himself with his daughters and shared his present and future with his beloved wife. He returned to Paris completely relaxed.
On April 19, 1906, while returning from the reunion of the Association of Professors of the Faculties of the Sciences he had a tragic accident. While he was crossing the rue Dauphine, a truck, coming from the Pont Neuf, crushed him under its wheels. He died on the spot. Marie had lost her companion and the world lost a great scientist.
In Stockholm, Dr. Pierre Curie had expressed concern about what would happen if radium would fall in wrong hands, as radium possessed the atomic power. It is notable that he cautioned the world, 42 years before destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, saying : "The question therefore arises whether it be to the advantage of humanity to know the secrets of nature … I am among those who believe with Nobel that humanity will obtain more good than evil from future discoveries."
Those who knew him or studied him, have valued him as a man of very high character, great gentleness and as a soul completely free from vanity. Throughout his life, he was concerned only for ‘humanity’.
"One may wonder whether it is in man’s interest to know nature’s secrets, if he is ready to benefit from them or if this knowledge will harm him…I am among those who believe that humanity will draw more benefit than harm from these discoveries."
Visitors to the Science exhibition of November 2000 on the first floor of the Palais de la Decouverte in Paris, would leave the exit door having an everlasting impact of these words. The man who summarized the scientific voyage, treasured from aeons to reveal the intimate secrets of Nature in a few beautiful words, was the French scientist Dr. Pierre Curie. He began his career in the field of physics and crystallography and later, turned towards radioactivity experiments. Working with his wife, the famous scientist Madame Curie, he benefited the world with two new radioactive substances – Polonium and Radium. The Curie couple worked hand in hand, avoiding the harmful effects of radium rays, that opened new vistas in the virgin field termed, Radioactivity. They won several awards and medals which was crowned by a shared Nobel Prize with Henri Becquerel.
Nevertheless, all suchg honors couldn’t bedazzle the noble man, whose life was – all for work, all for science. A precious example of devotion to science : he never took a single patent, rather opened his door for anyone who had a thirst to learn about his invaluable discoveries. He was a man, who was filled with intelligence, nobility, selflessness and liberty. He, who always worshipped humanity, will remain a remarkable figure among the personalities who made the epochal scientific history.
May 15, 1859 Birth of Pierre Curie in Paris, France.
1873 A tutor, Professor Bazille, was appointed to teach him at home.
1875 Became a Bachelor of Science.
1877 Obtained his licence ès sciences. (Licentiate in Physics)
1878 Appointed as laboratory assistant at the school of Pharmacy in Sorbonne.
1882 Appointed as supervisor at the School of Physics and Industrial Chemistry at Paris.
1883 Curie family moved from capital to the suburb of Paris, at Fontenayaux-Roses.
Appointed Director of Laboratory Work in the School of Industrial Physics and Chemistry at Paris.
1891 Began a long series of experiments on the magnetic properties of bodies.
1895 Obtained a Doctorate of Science from the University of Paris.
July 25, 1895 Married Marie Sklodowska (later known as Madame Curie). The scientist couple began scientific experiments.
1896 Henri Becquerel discovered the phenomenon of radioactivity.
1898 Discovered two radioactive substances – polonium and radium, with Madame Curie.
1900 Refused a chair at the University of Geneva in order to continue his research with his wife.
Appointed as lecturer at the University of Sorbonne.
10 December, 1903 Awarded Nobel Prize for Physics jointly with Marie Curie, the other half was awarded to Professor Henri Becquerel.
November, 1903 Awarded the Davy Medal of the Royal Society of London.
1904 Appointed Titular professor at the Faculty of Sciences of Paris.
1905 Elected Fellow to the Academy of Sciences.
April 19, 1906 Died in Paris, France.
Dr. Pierre Curie was drawn to science from his infancy. With his independent and imaginative mind, he was unable to adapt himself to systematic work, which other scientists generally possess. But his originality and brilliance aided the world through his beneficial discoveries. In the initial years, he did research with his elder brother Jacques Curie and after getting married; worked in collaboration with his scientist wife, Marie Curie.
• The major contributions of Pierre Curie that he made either alone or in collaboration are :
• Discovery of Piezoelectricity
• Invention of Piezoelectric Quartz
• Formulation of Principle of Symmetry
• Invention of Curie Scale
• Established the Curie’s Law
• Established Theoretical Relation between Crystallography and Physics
• Discovery of Induced Radioactivity in the action of Polonium and Radium
• Discovery of Liberation of Heat produced by Radium
• Investigation on the Physiological Effects of Radium Rays
Initial Phase
Pierre began his voyage of scientific researches at the age of 19. He carried out his first work on the calculation of the wavelength of heat waves. At the beginning of his career, he worked as a laboratory assistant to Professor P. Desains in the faculty of science. In 1880, he conducted his first research in the determination of the wavelengths of infrared rays, using a novel system of a thermocouple and a metallic wire grating. This process was entirely new at that time, and it has since often been used in the study of this subject.
Following the work on wavelength rays, he undertook an investigation on crystals in collaboration with his brother Jacques, who was a preparator for Friedel’s laboratory of mineralogy at the Sorbonne. Their fruitful collaboration led the two young physicists towards a great success, the discovery of piezo-electricity. This unknown phenomenon consisted of an electric polarization produced by the compression or the expansion of crystals in the direction of axis of symmetry. The Curie brothers succeeded in carrying out a complete study of the new phenomenon :
"Some crystals, when compressed in particular directions show positive and negative charges on their surfaces, the charges being proportional to the pressure and disappearing when the pressure is withdrawn."
After his theoretical and experimental researches, he verified Lippmann’s prediction of a converse effect : the production of a piezo-electric crystal by an electric field. Applying this phenomenon, he formed a new apparatus, a piezo-electric quartz electrometer. This apparatus measures in absolute terms small quantities of electricity and also electric currents of low intensity. In experiments of radioactivity, Pierre’s discovery rendered great help.
While experimenting piezo-electricity, Pierre and Jacques were obliged to employ electrometric apparatus. In those days, the quadrant electrometer was very well known, but they could not use it. So they developed a new version, better adapted to their requirements. This instrument become popular in France as the Curie electrometer – the forerunner of modern quartz controls for timepieces and radio transmitters.
Second Phase
In 1882, working as a supervisor at the school of physics in Paris, Pierre carried out his own research. For a long period, he studied buffered movements. These first years of independent research were arduous. It was the second phase of his career, when he conducted fruitful research on crystals and magnetism. He advanced theories of symmetry with regard to certain physical phenomena and turned his attention to magnetism.
In 1885, he published his research papers on the theoretical relations between crystallography and physics. Pierre, with his brother, established the conditions of symmetry required for its production in crystals and stated its notably simple quantitative laws as well as its absolute magnitude for particular crystals. Pierre formulated the principle of symmetry, which states the impossibility of bringing about a specific physical process in an environment lacking a certain minimal dis-symmetry characteristic of the process. This principle became one of the ultra-sensitive scientific scale, the Curie scale. Many eminent foreign scientists including Roentgen, Kundt, Voigt and Riecke followed the new road opened by the Curie brothers and made further investigations.
In 1894, he obtained his doctorate with a thesis on the magnetic properties of materials. He undertook research on magnetism and obtained a result of capital importance. He managed to perfect the analytical balance by creating a periodic balance with direct reading of the last weights. Then he concentrated on magnetism. He explained if there was any existence of some relation between the three types of magnetism : Ferromagnetism, paramagnetism and diamagnetism. It led to the discovery of a fundamental law, known as the Curie’s Law.
This law states : "The properties of diamagnetic materials are generally independent of temperature but for paramagnetic material the susceptibility is inversely proportional to the absolute temperature."
The temperature at which the transition from ferromagnetism to paramagnetism takes place is known today as Curie point. Pierre demonstrated the totally different character of diamagnetism and paramagnetism, which was later explained theoretically by Paul Langevin.
Third Phase
In the third phase of his scientific career, he turned towards the field of radioactivity. His wife Marie was studying the phenomena of the penetrating radiation emitted by uranium compounds, which was discovered by Henri Becquerel. Fascinated by Becquerel’s discovery, Pierre and Marie began experimenting and in 1898, discovered two new radioactive substances – Polonium and later, Radium. This discovery marked a new history and opened a new field for scientists –the field of Radioactivity. In 1899, André Debierne, a colleague and student of Pierre, discovered actinium.
Pierre, abandoning his work on crystals, joined Marie in further research of unknown radioactive substances. They chose the ore pitchblende, a uranium ore, which in its pure state is about four times more active than uranium oxide. Pierre himself concentrated on the physical study of the new radioactive substances. He published two papers on the physiological action of radium rays after subjecting his arm to a burn and studying their toxic effects on mice and guinea pigs.
Eventually, he discovered that 1 gm of radium salts released 22,500 cal / h. The heat which Pierre first identified with atomic energy is much less than now produced by induced nuclear fission. He explained the effects of the rays including luminous and chemical effects in his research paper.
Experimenting on the action of magnetic fields on the radioactive rays, he proved the existence of particles and differentiated electrically as positive, negative and neutral. Ernest Rutherford later called them alpha (a), beta (ß) and gamma (g) rays. Further, he also observed the physiological effects of radium rays. This paved the way to cure the dreaded disease like cancer and this radium therapy become popular as Curie Therapy.
For their valuable work in the field of radioactivity, the Curies were awarded with the Nobel Prize in 1903. Pierre Curie worked under very trying conditions, with barely adequate laboratory facilities and under stress of having to take up teaching in order to earn their livelihood.
His works are recorded in numerous publications in the Competes Rendus de J’ Academie des Sciences, the Journal de Physique and the Annales de Physique et Chime. His complete works were published posthumously, in 1908.
Dr. Pierre Curie has left a legacy of 58 publications, based on which modern physics is taking shape.
• One may wonder whether it is in man’s interest to know nature’s secrets, if he is ready to benefit from them or if this knowledge will harm him….
I am among those who believe that humanity will draw more benefit than harm from these discoveries.
• The universe is a dissymmetric whole. I am led to believe that life, as it is revealed to us, must be a function of the dissymmetry of the universe, or of the consequences that it involves.
• Women, much more than men, love life for life’s sake.
• I believe – that justice is not of this world, and that the strongest system or rather the one best developed from the economic point of view will be that which will stand. A man may exhaust himself by work, and yet live, at best miserably. This is a revolting fact, but it will not, because of that, cease. It will disappear probably because man is a kind of machine, and it is of economic advantage to make every machine work in its normal manner, without forcing it.
• We are all slaves of our affections,…slaves of the prejudices of those we love.
• …We must make a living, and this forces us to become a wheel in the machine. The most painful are the concessions we are forced to make to the prejudices of the society in which we live. We must make more or fewer compromises according as we feel ourselves feebler or stronger. If one does not make enough concessions he is crushed; if he makes too many he is ignoble and despises himself.
• What would you think of a person who would knock his head against a stone wall with the intention of overthrowing it ? Such an idea might be the result of very beautiful feelings, but in realization it would be ridiculous and stupid. I believe that certain questions demand a general solution, and do not admit, today, of specific solutions, and the one who begins a course that has no issue, may do much harm.
• …In science we should be interested in things and not in persons.
• Whatever happens, even if one should become like a body without a soul, still one must always work.
• …I am among those who believe with Nobel that humanity will obtain more good than evil from future discoveries.
• We must eat, drink, sleep, be idle, love, touch the sweetest things of life and yet not succumb to them. It is necessary that, in doing all this, the higher thoughts to which one is dedicated remain dominant and continue their unmoved course in our poor heads.
• …It is necessary to make a dream of life, and to make of a dream a reality.
Bachelor of Science 1875
Licentiateship in Physics 1877
Directorship of Laboratory Work at the School of Physics, Paris 1882
Titular Professorship at the University of Sorbonne 1900
