Irène Joliot-Curie
She, along with her husband Frédéric Joliot-Curie, discovered artificial radioactivity.
Most quoted
"We must not forget that when radium was discovered no one knew that it would prove useful in hospitals. The work was one of pure science. And this is a proof that scientific work must not be considered from the point of view of the direct usefulness of it. It must be done for itself, for the beauty of science, and then there is always the chance that a scientific discovery may become like the radium a benefit for humanity."
— from Biography
"We must not forget that when radium was discovered no one knew that it would prove useful in hospitals. The work was one of pure science. And this is a proof that scientific work must not be considered from the point of view of the direct usefulness of it. It must be done for itself, for the beauty of science, and then there is always the chance that a scientific discovery may become like radium, a benefit for humanity."
— from Nobel Lecture, 'Artificial Production of Radioactive Elements', 1935
"Humanity needs practical men, who get the most out of their work, and, without forgetting the general good, safeguard their own interests. But humanity also needs dreamers, for whom the disinterested development of an enterprise is so captivating that it becomes impossible for them to devote their care to their own material profit."
— from Likely derived from Marie Curie
All quotes by Irène Joliot-Curie (405)
The artificial radioactivity we discovered opens up entirely new fields of research, not only in physics and chemistry but also in biology and medicine.
The discovery of artificial radioactivity has shown that the dream of the alchemists, to transmute elements, is now a reality, though not in the way they imagined.
Science, for me, has always been a source of profound joy and wonder.
The future of science depends on the free exchange of ideas and the collaboration of researchers across national borders.
We must never forget that scientific progress is a collective endeavor, built upon the work of countless individuals.
The pursuit of knowledge is an endless journey, full of unexpected discoveries and challenges.
The atom, once considered indivisible, has revealed a world of complexity and potential.
Our work on artificial radioactivity has opened the door to understanding the fundamental forces that govern the universe.
The applications of artificial radioelements in medicine, particularly in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, are immense.
The scientist's role is not only to discover but also to communicate the implications of their discoveries to society.
The beauty of science lies in its ability to unravel the mysteries of nature, one experiment at a time.
We must encourage young people, especially girls, to pursue careers in science and engineering.
The path of scientific discovery is often arduous, but the rewards of understanding are immeasurable.
The study of radioactivity has profoundly changed our understanding of matter and energy.
The neutron, discovered by Chadwick, played a crucial role in our experiments on artificial radioactivity.
The transmutation of elements, once a dream, is now a tool for scientific investigation.
The scientific method, with its emphasis on observation and experimentation, is the cornerstone of progress.
The responsibility of scientists extends beyond the laboratory to the ethical implications of their work.
The exploration of the atomic nucleus has opened up a new frontier in physics.
Our experiments demonstrated that stable elements could be made radioactive by bombarding them with alpha particles.
Contemporaries of Irène Joliot-Curie
Other Chemistrys born within 50 years of Irène Joliot-Curie (1897–1956).