Women painting alarm clock faces at the Ingersoll factory in January 1932. Known as the "Radium Girls," these workers were putting their health at risk by lip-pointing the brush and ingesting radioactive radium.
Women painting alarm clock faces at the Ingersoll factory in January 1932. Known as the "Radium Girls," these workers were putting their health at risk by lip-pointing the brush and ingesting radioactive radium.
Daily Herald Archive/SSPL/Getty Images
Radium Girls work in a factory owned by the United States Radium Corporation, circa 1922
Radium Girls work in a factory owned by the United States Radium Corporation, circa 1922
Public Domain
The United States Radium Corporation's radium crystallization laboratory.
The United States Radium Corporation's radium crystallization laboratory.
Gerald Weinstein/Library of Congress
A 1921 advertisement for Undark, a product of the Radium Luminous Material Corporation that was involved in the Radium Girls scandal.
A 1921 advertisement for Undark, a product of the Radium Luminous Material Corporation that was involved in the Radium Girls scandal.
Public Domain
Radithor was an early "energy drink" containing radioactive radium. It was advertised as a cure-all medicine for fatigue, arthritis, neuritis and other ailments.
Radithor was an early "energy drink" containing radioactive radium. It was advertised as a cure-all medicine for fatigue, arthritis, neuritis and other ailments.
John B. Carnett/Bonnier Corp. via Getty Images
In the 1920s, Radium was a popular additive for many everyday products. This is a French advertisement for "Tho-Radia" cleansing serum, 1938.
In the 1920s, Radium was a popular additive for many everyday products. This is a French advertisement for "Tho-Radia" cleansing serum, 1938.
Apic/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
An item from William Kolb's extensive collection of strangely compelling radioactive nostrums: Radione tablets, for energy.
An item from William Kolb's extensive collection of strangely compelling radioactive nostrums: Radione tablets, for energy.
John B. Carnett/Popular Science via Getty Images
An ad for a radium-based hair treatment from 1924.
An ad for a radium-based hair treatment from 1924.
H.W. Cherry/Library of Congress
Marie Curie (1867-1934) in her laboratory. The great Polish-French chemist discovered both radioactivity and the radioactive elements radium and polonium, achievements that won her two Nobel prizes. She was the first woman to win the award, the first person and only woman to win it twice, and the only person to win it in two different sciences, physics and chemistry. The Curie household has received four Nobels in total, as Marie's husband Pierre shared one with her and their daughter Irène won one on her own.
Marie Curie (1867-1934) in her laboratory. The great Polish-French chemist discovered both radioactivity and the radioactive elements radium and polonium, achievements that won her two Nobel prizes. She was the first woman to win the award, the first person and only woman to win it twice, and the only person to win it in two different sciences, physics and chemistry. The Curie household has received four Nobels in total, as Marie's husband Pierre shared one with her and their daughter Irène won one on her own.
Time Life Pictures/The LIFE Picture Collection/The LIFE Picture Collection/Gett