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by gambiting 2118 days ago
I would be very interested in knowing where did that radium come from? How was it produced at the time? The article says president Warren presented her with 1g of the element - how was it secured, in such a small quantity? Did she bring it back with her just in her purse? So many questions.
2 comments
severak_cz 2118 days ago
She isolated radium from (many tons of) Uranitite, which was donated by Austrian goverment. This was waste byproduct of mines in Jáchymov (today in Czech republic).

See https://web.archive.org/web/20170704193910/http://history.ai...

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saiya-jin 2118 days ago
Ah yes, the favorite place of Communism regime to dispose of unwanted citizens, instead of just hanging them.

It was usually a death sentence, be it for uranium ore, brutality of the guards or inhumane conditions. Crimes varied, often political opponents of hardline communists (including less radical ones), or being in domestic/foreign resistance against nacism during WWII.

Quite a few folks who fought for allies ie pilots in Battle of Britain, went home as heroes and ended up there. Sad times

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adammunich 2118 days ago
Processing uranium ore by the ton, a few grams per ton!

Yes, she did bring it back in her purse. As well she would keep a vial as a pocket toy to show off at parties (it ionizes the air and glows blue).

Her textbooks are still very radioactive.

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