She was born Maria Sklodowska, in Warsaw Poland. In 1896, intrigued by the physicist Henri Becquerel's accidental discovery of radioactivity, Curie began studying uranium rays. Her husband Pierre soon joined her in her research. Two years later, the Curies discovered polonium-named after Marie's homeland-and radium. In 1903 they shared the Nobel Prize in physics with Becquerel for their groundbreaking work on radioactivity.  The first woman to be granted a Nobel Prize, Marie later became the first person to receive a second one. In 1911 she received the prestigious award in chemistry this time for her work in isolation of radium and other accomplishments.    During World War I, Marie used her radiography expertise to set up dozens of mobile and permanent X-ray stations. They became known as "Petites Curies" for their famous creator.    Marie's daughter Irene followed in her footsteps, earning a doctorate in physics and conducting important research on synthesized radioactive elements. In 1935, she and her husband Frederic Joliot, shared the Nobel Prize in chemistry for their discovery of artificial radioactivity.   Among Marie Curie's writings, she left behind this thought, "NOTHING IN LIFE IS TO BE FEARED, IT IS ONLY TO BE UNDERSTOOD. NOW IS THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND MORE, SO THAT WE MAY FEAR LESS."