Curies

/ˈkjʊəriz/ noun

Definition

Plural of curie; units of radioactivity measurement equal to 3.7 billion disintegrations per second.

Etymology

Named after Marie Curie, the physicist who discovered radium and polonium. The unit was standardized in the early 20th century following her groundbreaking research.

Kelly Says

Marie Curie's notebooks are still so radioactive they're kept in lead-lined boxes and require protective gear to handle—science was literally written in poison.

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