Marie Skłodowska Curie was born into humble circumstances in Russian-occupied Poland. Facing hurdles like poverty, repression, and rampant sexism, she found the odds stacked highly against her. But the determined young genius would defy all obstacles and become one of the most famous and accomplished scientists of all time. Her pioneering work on radiation would change the world forever—and, unbeknownst to her, end up the cause of her relatively premature demise.