Marie Curie's Legacy with Dava Sobel

Award-winning science writer Dava Sobel returns to AMSEcast to discuss her latest book, The Elements of Marie Curie. She and host Alan explore Curie's groundbreaking research, her struggles against societal barriers, and her enduring impact on science and women in STEM. From her discovery of polonium and radium to mentoring future pioneers like Ellen Gleditsch and Marguerite Perey, Curie's legacy shaped cancer treatment and scientific research. Sobel also highlights Curie's daughter, Irène Joliot-Curie, and her Nobel-winning work on artificial radioisotopes. Tune in for a fascinating look at one of history's greatest scientific minds.     Guest Bio Dava Sobel is an award-winning science writer known for bringing history and scientific discovery to life. She has authored acclaimed books including Longitude, Galileo's Daughter, The Glass Universe, A More Perfect Heaven, as well as the play And the Sun Stood Still. In her latest work, The Elements of Marie Curie: How the Glow of Radium Lit a Path for Women in Science, Sobel explores Curie's groundbreaking research, resilience, and lasting impact on women in STEM. Returning to AMSEcast, she joins host Alan to discuss Curie's legacy and the challenges she overcame in pursuit of scientific discovery.     Show Highlights (1:25) What led Marie Curie to a life of science (6:28) Marie Curie's Nobel Prizes (11:47) Her role in creating a radium standard and why that's important (13:31) Madame Curie's pioneering role in the use of radiation for medical therapies (15:00) Her role as mentor and teacher to other to other women in science (20:54) Curie's reception in the United States (22:04) Her daughter's scientific legacy (28:23) What's next for Dava Sobel     Links The Elements of Marie Curie: How the Glow of Radium Lit a Path for Women in Science: https://groveatlantic.com/book/the-elements-of-marie-curie/