https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3906-8761
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Abstract
Purpose
This review is focused on radium and radionuclides in its decay chain in honor of Marie Curie, who discovered this element.
Materials and methods
We conglomerated current knowledge regarding radium and its history predating our present understanding of this radionuclide.
Results
An overview of the properties of radium and its dose assessment is shown followed by discussions about both the negative detrimental and positive therapeutic applications of radium with this history and its evolution reflecting current innovations in medical science.
Conclusions
We hope to remind all those who are interested in the progress of science about the vagaries of the process of scientific discovery. In addition, we raise the interesting question of whether Marie Curie’s initial success was in part possible due to her tight alignment with her husband Pierre Curie who pushed the work along.
Keywords:
Acknowledgments
We thank Susan Brand and Caitlin Youngquist for creating new artwork for this manuscript, which was supported by the University of California Contractor Supporting Research Program at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory under U.S. Department of Energy Contract No. DE-AC02-05CH11231.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Rebecca Abergel
Rebecca Abergel is an Associate Professor of Nuclear Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, and a Faculty Scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where she leads the Heavy Element Chemistry group.
John Aris
John Aris, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Wesley E. Bolch
Wesley E. Bolch, PhD, is a Distinguished Professor in the J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida USA, and Director of ALRADS – Advanced Laboratory for Radiation Dosimetry Studies.
Shaheen A. Dewji
Shaheen A. Dewji, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Nuclear and Radiological Engineering and Medical Physics Programs at the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Ashley Golden
Ashley Golden, PhD, is the Director of ORISE Health Studies and Senior Biostatistician in Epidemiology and Exposure Science at Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge Tennessee.
David A. Hooper
David A. Hooper, PhD, is a Senior R&D Staff Member and the Interim Group Leader for the Detonation Forensics and Response group at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
Dmitri Margot
Dmitri Margot is a PhD student in the Nuclear and Radiological Engineering and Medical Physics Programs at the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Carly G. Menker
Carly G. Menker is a Researcher in the Department of Radiation Biology, at Northwestern University Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL.
Tatjana Paunesku
Tatjana Paunesku, PhD, is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Radiation Biology, at Northwestern University Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL.
Dörthe Schaue
Dörthe Schaue, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California, USA.
Gayle E. Woloschak
Gayle E. Woloschak, PhD, is Professor of Radiation Oncology at Northwestern University Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL.