Marie Curie

Portrait of Marie Curie (http://www.spaceandmotion.com/physics-marie-curie-biography.htm)

I think that a hero is someone who does something for other people and not just for themselves. A hero is also someone who does something to contribute to science or discovery, to help the future be better, or to help us understand the world around us better, such as Thomas Edison. He helped us understand how electricity works and how to shine a light on a subject. That is why I decided my hero is Marie Curie because she helped us to discover radioactivity. I am "Marie Curious!"

Marie Curie was born in the year of 1867. In Marie's years of childhood, she had a wonderful talent for reading. At the age of only 4 years old, she could already read. Marie had another talent that continued to astound people. This was her memory. She could remember everything from A-Z. What first interested Marie to become a scientist was her dad's instruments that he used as a science professor. Marie was determined to become a scientist just like her father. This would be a struggle because her family was becoming poor. At the age of 18, Marie worked as a governess and paid for her sister to get an education. Later on her sister payed for Marie to get her education. In 1891 Marie went to the Sorbonne University located in Paris. At the university she met Pierre Curie who was studying to be a physicist. Later on they married.

I believe that a hero is someone that contributes science and technology to the world. This is what Marie Curie did. Her exploration on radiation helped us with x-rays, and learning about radiation. The reason she died was because of her work with radiation. This also helped other people understand the dangers of radiation, too. I also believe that a hero is someone who does something for somebody else. Again we come back to how Marie died from radiation. It shows that she dedicated her life to her work and the studies of radiation.

The other two characteristics that I think a hero has is that they try to make the future better for others. Marie Curie fits this because she helped the future. Now that we know that radiation is bad for us we can stay away from that. It also helped us find ways to cure others using this radiation. Without this discovery, we would never have x-rays. Another is how she helped the world around us. Some of this radiation came from space, and she helped us understand it more. Also, she answered the question of what was making some medics sick. Radiation. Because of her we are able to understand some of life's secrets.

Ever since I could understand what a scientist was, I have been begging to be one. Marie Curie introduced the love of science I have today. Marie was one of the best lady scientists to ever live. The work and the struggles she had to go through made it hard for her to think of what she needed to do for herself. Long nights of working by candle light studying, mixing, and studying some more. Finally passing away from the danger of her work. She helped others understand the world. Marie Curie is my hero and she will always be.