Marie Curie and the Science of Radioactivity
MARIE SKLODOWSKA CURIE opened up the science of radioactivity. She is best known as the discoverer of the radioactive elements polonium and radium and as the first person to win two Nobel prizes. For scientists and the public, her radium was a key to a basic change in our understanding of matter and energy. Her work not only influenced the development of fundamental science but also ushered in a new era in medical research and treatment.
居禮夫人與放射性科學
瑪麗亞·斯克沃多夫斯卡-居禮(Marie Sklodowska Curie)開啟了放射性科學時代，她最著名的貢獻便是發現放射性元素釙(Po)和鐳(Ra)，並且兩度獲得諾貝爾獎。對於科學家和大眾來說，她發現鐳是改變我們對物質和能源認知的關鍵。她的發現不只影響了基礎科學的發展，也引導醫療研究和治療進入新的紀元。
X-rays and Uranium Rays
MARIE CURIE'S CHOICE of a thesis topic was influenced by two recent discoveries by other scientists. In December 1895, about six months after the Curies married, German physicist Wilhelm Roentgen discovered a kind of ray that could travel through solid wood or flesh and yield photographs of living people's bones. Roentgen dubbed these mysterious rays X-rays, with X standing for unknown. In recognition of his discovery, Roentgen in 1901 became the first Nobel laureate in physics.
X光和鈾射線
居禮夫人的論文題目是受到近代兩位科學家研究的影響。 1895年12月，在居禮夫婦結婚後六個月，德國物理學家威廉‧倫琴（Wilhelm Roentgen）發現了一種可以穿過實心木材、人體以及顯示人體骨骼的照片。倫琴博士將這種神秘的射線命名為X射線，X即代表未知。為表彰倫琴博士的發現，他在1901年成為首位諾貝爾物理學獎得主。
In early 1896, only a few of months after Roentgen's discovery, French physicist Henri Becquerel reported to the French Academy of Sciences that uranium compounds, even if they were kept in the dark, emitted rays that would fog a photographic plate. He had come upon this discovery accidentally. Despite Becquerel's intriguing finding, the scientific community continued to focus its attention on Roentgen's X-rays, neglecting the much weaker Becquerel rays or uranium rays.
896年初，在倫琴博士發現的幾個月後，法國物理學家亨利˙貝克勒爾（Henri Becquerel）向法國科學院提出「鈾化合物」報告。他無意間發現，即使那些化合物置於黑暗中，散發出的射線還是會使感光板變黑。儘管如此，科學界的人還是較關注於倫琴博士的X射線上，而忽視了較弱的貝克勒爾射線和鈾射線。
THE IGNORED URANIUM RAYS appealed to Marie Curie. Since she would not have a long bibliography of published papers to read, she could begin experimental work on them immediately. The director of the Paris Municipal School of Industrial Physics and Chemistry, where Pierre was professor of physics, permitted her to use a crowded, damp storeroom there as a lab.
人們忽略的鈾射線相當吸引居禮夫人。因為她不需要閱讀大量書籍，她能做的就是立刻開始實驗。當時的居禮先生在巴黎高等物理化工學院擔任物理教授，而該院的院長准許她待在一個擁擠且潮濕的儲藏室作為實驗室。 新細明體","serif";mso-ascii-font-family:Garamond;mso-hansi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;mso-ansi-language: EN-US;mso-fareast-language:ZH-TW;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA'>貝克勒爾（Henri Becquerel）向法國科學院提出「鈾化合物」報告。他無意間發現，即使那些化合物置於黑暗中，散發出的射線還是會使感光板變黑。儘管如此，科學界的人還是較關注於倫琴博士的X射線上，而忽視了較弱的貝克勒爾射線和鈾射線。
A clever technique was her key to success. About 15 years earlier, Pierre and his older brother, Jacques, had invented a new kind of electrometer, a device for measuring extremely low electrical currents. Marie now put the Curie electrometer to use in measuring the faint currents that can pass through air that has been bombarded with uranium rays. The moist air in the storeroom tended to dissipate the electric charge, but she managed to make reproducible measurements.
她成功的關鍵在於精明的技術。大約十五年前，皮耶爾和他的哥哥雅各發明了一種新型的靜電計，用來測量極低電流的儀器。居禮夫人現在將靜電計作為測量在鈾射線衝擊後可以在空氣中穿越的微弱電流。儲藏室中的濕氣傾向於電荷流失，但她設法去重複測量。 w Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:ZH-TW; mso-bidi-language:AR-SA'>物理化工學院擔任物理教授，而該院的院長准許她待在一個擁擠且潮濕的儲藏室作為實驗室。 新細明體","serif";mso-ascii-font-family:Garamond;mso-hansi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;mso-ansi-language: EN-US;mso-fareast-language:ZH-TW;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA'>貝克勒爾（Henri Becquerel）向法國科學院提出「鈾化合物」報告。他無意間發現，即使那些化合物置於黑暗中，散發出的射線還是會使感光板變黑。儘管如此，科學界的人還是較關注於倫琴博士的X射線上，而忽視了較弱的貝克勒爾射線和鈾射線。
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