Marie Curie

My experiments proved that the radiation of uranium compounds can be measured with precision under determined conditions, and that this radiation is an atomic property of the element of uranium.

The results of my measurements of the radioactivity of uranium and thorium compounds have shown that this radioactivity is an atomic property.

We thus believe that the substance that we have extracted from pitchblende contains a metal never known before, similar to bismuth in its analytic properties. If the existence of this new metal is confirmed we propose to call it polonium, from the name of the original country of one of us.

The chemical work aimed at isolating radium in the state of the pure salt, and at characterizing it as a new element, was carried out specially by me, but it is intimately connected with our common work.

I shall devote my whole life to the service of science.

Science is based on phenomena, not on persons.

The future will certainly see a great development of radioactive therapies, and I am convinced that we will find ways to use these powerful forces for the good of humanity.

Each of us must work for his own improvement, and at the same time share a general responsibility for all humanity.