Un estudio histórico de Marie Curie y Lise Meitner en la era atómica

Abstract

In light of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, it is essential to remember the great contributions to physics made by two pioneering women scientists whose careers show notable parallels as well as contrasts: Marie Curie and Lise Meitner. This article explores their most important and far-reaching scientific achievements—from the discovery of radioactive elements such as polonium and radium, to the theory of nuclear fission and the isolation of protactinium—and analyzes their impact on the development of physics and chemistry. It examines how their findings marked historical milestones and gave rise to new fields of research. It also investigates their humanitarian work and social commitment, including the application of science in times of war, such as Marie Curie’s use of mobile X-ray units alongside her daughter Irène Joliot-Curie, and Lise Meitner’s refusal to participate in the development of the atomic bomb in the Manhattan Project. The recognition they received during their lifetimes (such as Curie’s two Nobel Prizes and other awards granted to Meitner) and posthumously is highlighted, as well as the gender barriers they faced in male-dominated environments. Finally, it contrasts how both women paved the way for future generations of female scientists, leaving a lasting legacy in the history of science.