On a snowy night on November 7, 1867, there was a little girl named Maria Sklodowska who lived in a Russian ruled Poland. Her parents are both teachers, and they have taught her a lot of knowledge and cultivated her interest in science. Unfortunately, her parents passed away early and she became an orphan. She has no money to go to school and can only acquire knowledge by self-study and attending some secret courses. She longed to go to a free country to continue learning and research.

One day, she got an opportunity to go to Paris, France, where there is a famous university called Sorbonne University. She packed her luggage and left Poland to start a new life. She studied physics and mathematics at Sorbonne University, and she worked very hard and was very intelligent, quickly becoming an excellent student. There, she met a boy named Pierre, who was also a physicist. They fell in love and got married. They are jointly committed to studying a mysterious phenomenon called radioactivity.

Radioactivity refers to the spontaneous emission of energy and particles by certain elements, like a lamp that never goes out. Maria and Pierre wanted to know how this phenomenon arose and what its purpose was. They used an instrument called an ammeter to measure the intensity of radiation emitted by different elements and found some surprising results. They discovered a substance extracted from uranium ore with radiation intensity several hundred times higher than pure uranium. They inferred that this substance must contain an unknown, more radioactive element and decided to separate it.

However, this is not an easy task. Maria and Pierre do not have enough funds and equipment, they can only work in a small, damp, and dirty laboratory. They had to process several tons of uranium ore and use complex, time-consuming, and dangerous chemical methods to purify and analyze its components. They also face suspicion and competition from other scientists, as well as prejudice and discrimination against female scientists in society. After years of hard work, they finally discovered two new radioactive elements in 1898, each named Polonium and Radium. This is an astonishing achievement, which earned Maria and Pierre international reputation and respect. In 1903, they shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with Becquerel.

The polonium and radium discovered by Maria and Pierre have very strong radioactivity, which can emit three different types of radiation, namely α Radiation β Ray and γ Radiation. These radiation lines have penetrating and lethal properties, which can affect the structure and properties of substances, as well as the cells and tissues of organisms. Maria and Pierre recognized that radioactive elements not only have scientific value, but also have medical potential. They found that radiation can kill bacteria and treat infections; It can also destroy tumor cells and treat cancer. They made these discoveries public and selflessly shared their research results and radioactive substances, hoping to benefit humanity.

Unfortunately, the good times did not last long. In 1906, Pierre unfortunately passed away in a traffic accident, and Maria lost her favorite person. She was heartbroken, but she didn't give up. She took on Pierre's job and became the first female professor at Sorbonne University. She continued to study the properties and changes of radioactive elements and discovered the phenomena of nuclear fission and transformation. She is also committed to separating and purifying more radium, and has measured its atomic weight and radiation constant. In 1911, she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her outstanding contributions in the field, becoming the first person to receive two Nobel Prizes.

In 1914, World War I broke out, and France was embroiled in the war. Maria decided to hand over her radium to the French government for safekeeping and transform her laboratory into a medical center. She utilized the penetration of X-rays to provide X-ray examination and diagnostic services for the injured. She also designed and built a mobile X-ray vehicle (called the "Little Curie") and personally drove it to the front line to treat soldiers. She also trained a group of female volunteers to become X-ray technicians and participate in war medical work together. Her work has saved countless lives and also improved the level of war medical care.

Maria's research and application of radioactive elements is undoubtedly a great undertaking, but it is also a dangerous one. At that time, people had not yet fully understood and protected themselves from the hazards of radiation, and Maria and her colleagues were often exposed to high doses of radiation without taking any protective measures. They even use radioactive substances as toys, keep them in their pockets, or use them for experiments. They don't know that these substances are quietly eroding their bodies and health.

Maria's health condition is gradually deteriorating, and she often feels symptoms such as fatigue, headache, fever, anemia, bleeding, and blurred vision. She also suffered from cataracts, which caused damage to her eyes. Her fingers, palms, and forearms all showed ulcers and necrosis, which is a manifestation of radiation skin disease.

Her bones have also been affected, with a decrease in bone density and an increased risk of fractures. Her organs have also been damaged, with dysfunction and fibrosis in her kidneys, liver, spleen, pancreas, heart, and lungs. Her immune system has also been suppressed, making her susceptible to various diseases.

Maria is not the only person who has been exposed to radiation hazards. Her husband Pierre had also developed similar symptoms due to long-term exposure to radioactive substances. After his death in a traffic accident, an autopsy revealed that his organs were severely damaged and deformed. Their daughter Elaine and son-in-law Frederick were also renowned nuclear physicists who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1935 for discovering artificial radioactive elements. However, they also developed leukemia due to long-term exposure to radiation and passed away in the 1950s. In addition to the Curie family, many other scientists, doctors, workers, soldiers, and ordinary people have suffered varying degrees of harm due to exposure to radioactive substances.

Maria is not completely ignorant of the hazards of radiation. She once wrote an article in 1910, warning people to pay attention to the damage to skin and eyes caused by radiation, and recommending the use of lead plates or other materials to block radiation. However, she was not aware of the impact of radiation on internal organs and cells, nor did she take effective protective measures. She even refused to receive any treatment or surgery, insisting that she could overcome the difficulties and continue scientific research.

Maria passed away on July 4, 1934, due to aplastic anemia, a disease caused by bone marrow damage leading to a decrease in blood cells, possibly caused by radiation. Her body was buried at the Staffany Abbey in Paris, along with her husband Pierre. However, her body did not rest in peace because her body was still radioactive and could emit strong radiation. In order to prevent her body from polluting and harming the surrounding environment, her coffin was wrapped in lead sheets and sealed with cement. Her cemetery has also been set up with warning signs to remind people not to approach or touch her tombstone.

Maria's experimental notebooks are also radioactive, as they record her research and discoveries on radioactive elements and are precious documents in the history of science. However, these laptops are also dangerous items, as they can emit radiation that can cause cancer or death in humans. To protect these notebooks, they are stored in a special safe in the French National Library and require wearing protective clothing and gloves to view them. Even so, viewers must sign a disclaimer acknowledging their knowledge and willingness to bear the risks associated with viewing these notebooks.

Maria is an outstanding scientist who has made significant contributions and innovations to radiation research, laying the foundation for the development of atomic nuclear physics and nuclear energy. She also applied radiation to the medical field, providing treatment for the injured and opening up new avenues for cancer treatment. She is a brave and selfless person who is not afraid of difficulties and hardships, challenges and sacrifices, and has sacrificed everything for science and humanity. She has left an indelible mark and glory in the history of science, and also left a deep admiration and gratitude in the hearts of humanity. Maria is a radioactive queen who has illuminated the future of science and humanity with her own life.