Marie Curie’s Notebooks: A Treasure of Science and a Hazard of Radiation

We are all aware of the impacts of disasters throughout history. Prolonged exposure to radiation can lead to cell damage, an increased risk of cancer, decreased levels of granulocytes, damage to organs and even death.

Radiation, being a swift and lethal force also carries mysteries. One such tale involves the possessions of physicist Marie Curie which got contaminated with radiation and could remain so for millennia.

Picture of Marie Curie in her laboratory.

Marie Curie, (November 7, 1867- July 4, 1934) was an exceptional physicist and chemist of Polish French descent renowned for her contributions to the field of radioactivity. She made history by being the recipient of two Nobel Prizes in Physics and Chemistry.

Marie's commitment to her work was evident, as she often carried isotopes in her pockets or desk drawers. Unfortunately, this consistent exposure to radiation without precautions led to her suffering from radiation poisoning.

On July 4, 1934, Marie Curie died due to anemia caused by the body's inability to produce blood cells as a result of radiation exposure. This exposure also contributed to her developing cataracts and ultimately going blind.

Even today, her remains continue to emit radiation and are buried in a coffin lined with 2.5 cm thick lead to contain the spread of radioactivity.

Beyond her remains, many of Marie Curie's belongings, such as furniture, clothing, cookbooks and lab notebooks, are still contaminated with radiation after a century has passed.

Among these treasures, her notebooks filled with notes are considered part of the scientific heritage and are housed in a box at the French National Library. However, experts caution that these notebooks carry risks due to their contamination with Radium 226, an element that has a half life of 1,600 years. This means that even after years the levels of radiation will only reduce by half instead of disappearing entirely.

Marie Curie's Radioactive Notebook.