This book by Dava Sobel is more than a biography; it is a tribute to Marie Curie, the first scientist to win two Nobel Prizes. Sobel navigates Curie's remarkable discoveries and fame alongside the stories of the women who trained in her laboratory, including Ellen Gleditsch, Marguerite Perey, and her own daughter, Irene Joliot-Curie. The narrative explores Curie's ingenuity beyond the laboratory, her personal struggles, and her enduring influence on women in science. Sobel's writing style makes complex scientific concepts accessible while providing a nuanced portrait of Curie's life and legacy[1][3][5].
The book tells the story of both Galileo Galilei and his intelligent and devout daughter, Suor Maria Celeste. It uses the 124 surviving letters from Maria to her father to provide a new perspective on Galileo's life, particularly his trial before the Inquisition for advocating the Copernican system. The narrative delves into the social and psychological forces at play during Galileo's trial, including the political pressures of the Thirty Years' War and the impact of the plague on Italy. It also vividly portrays the harsh life of the 'Poor Clares' in the convent where Maria lived, highlighting her significant role in supporting her father despite her own challenging circumstances.
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How did Marie Curie go from being rejected by the French Academy to winning two Nobel Prizes?
In this episode of Into The Impossible, Dava Sobel, author of “The Elements of Marie Curie,” takes us on a journey through Curie’s life, from having an angry mob outside her house to making revolutionary discoveries that would change the course of history.
Dava Sobel is an acclaimed author with a particular talent for telling the stories of historical figures in science and highlighting the human elements behind their groundbreaking achievements. Through Sobel’s incredible storytelling, we gain insight into the resilience and brilliance of one of history’s most iconic figures.
Join us as we explore how Marie Curie’s legacy still shines today!
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Key Takeaways:
- 00:00 Intro
- 00:26 Marie Curie’s scandal and public backlash in 1911
- 02:07 Her wartime efforts creating mobile X-ray units
- 04:28 Judging a book by its cover
- 07:40 Marie Curie’s work on magnetism
- 09:52 Explaining the names of the chapters
- 17:14 Curie’s success in breaking gender barriers
- 20:22 Dangerous misconceptions surrounding radium
- 23:10 Marie and Pierre Curie’s work
- 29:15 The distinctions between physics and chemistry
- 30:54 Galileo’s daughter and the human side of scientists
- 42:26 Galilean moons and solving the longitude problem
- 45:02 The Pope’s argument
- 50:46 What’s next for Dava Sobel
- 56:37 Outro
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Additional resources:
➡️ Learn more about Dava Sobel:
📚 The Elements of Marie Curie: https://a.co/d/gEyX6qI
💻 Website: https://www.davasobel.com/
📚 Galileo’s Daugther: https://a.co/d/fVkwQLW
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