July 14, 1950 - Death of Catherine Chamié, measured the half-life of radon for the first time

In 1907 she enrolled at the Faculty of Science of the University of Geneva (Switzerland) and in 1913 he received his doctorate with his thesis on electromagnetism.

She returned to Russia and continued his studies on voltages in phanotrons at the University of St. Petersburg Physics Laboratory.

During the Russian Revolution, she moved to Paris in search of educational and work opportunities to support her family and, between 1919 and 1920, enrolled in a series of free courses related to radioactivity offered by the Collège de France.

After completing courses and gaining experience in the field of radioactivity, he wrote to Marie Curie to seek opportunities to work part-time in her laboratory at the Institut Curie or Institut du Radium. Marie offered him a position and he volunteered to join the institute's measurement department as a chemist. His work included the preparation of radium salts and the analysis of radioactive minerals from the Congo. He was soon awarded a research grant which enabled him to work at the Institut du Radium on a paid basis. Between 1920 and 1934, he assisted Marie Curie in her major research work. Together with Irène Joliot-Curie, he measured for the first time the half-life of radon and carried out extensive research on the photographic effect of atom clusters, an effect that bears his name.

In 1934 she became head of the measurement department and carried out research in the field of medical applications of radioactivity.

To find out more about this scientist, click on the link below: Catherine Chamié