Madame Curie Page #6

Yes, I'm positive, Pierre.

And you found that

only two of them...

uranium and thorium

gave off rays.

That's right.

Then

you measured the uranium and thorium

in the pitch blende ore.

And that's when I run

into trouble.

The pitch blende has more

radioactivity than I can explained

by the amount of

uranium and thorium had in it.

Would you like to show me

how you make your measurements

Marie?

You wouldn't mind?

Of course not.

Alright.

Here is what I've done

so many times that I lost count.

Here is crude pitch blende.

Now we know that

the rays came from the uranium

and thorium that are

in this pitch blende.

Those two elements

give off the rays.

Correct.

I put the pitch blende

in this mortar.

Has the mortar always been clean?

Always and grinded up.

Here is the ground pitch blende

throw in the uranium

and thorium in it

I also fill a disk level full.

Just like what I've done

every time.

Then I placed it

in the electrometer.

And I close the case

so there is no draft.

Good.

I charged the electrometer.

Now I will find out

how much energy to raise

in the pitch blende they have

is it right?

Right. Start.

Ready. Read.

Eight.

Eight.

Same reading as I always had.

This pitch blende

with the uranium and the thorium

still in it comes to eight.

Now, here is pure uranium

I strike it

in the same amount of pitch blende.

This is exactly the same case

close the case

charged the electrometer

Now, we will find out

how much energy

the rays in the uranium have.

Right.

Ready. Read.

Two, same as always.

Done nothing wrong so far.

Not that I can see.

We know then that...

the pitch blende with

the uranium and thorium in it

comes to eight and that

the uranium alone reads two.

I am going to test the thorium.

From the same amount of pitch blende?

Of course, and put in exactly

the same case

close the case

charged the electrometer.

Now we find out how much energy

the rays in thorium have?

Right.

Ready. Read.

Two

I don't understand.

There must be a mistake.

When the uranium and thoarum are

in the pitch blende

the reading is eight.

But individually

they only total four.

Have you checked

all the other elements

in the pitch blende?

I checked every elements.

There is no the result.

Every elements in existence.

Uranium and thorium are

the only elements that give off rays.

Why do they give off twice

as much when they are

in the pitch blende as they do

as they were tested separately?

Where are those

four missing points?

That is what I don't understand.

I don't understand.

You make the chemical analysis of

what is content

in the pitch blende, didn't you?

Of course. Could I see it?

Yes.

Uranium oxide - 75%

Chlorium Oxide - 13%

Lead sulfide - 3%

Silicon dioxide - 2%

Calcium oxide - 3%

Barium oxide - 2%

Iron oxide - 1%

Magnesium oxide - 1/990%

other extraneous elements

Pierre Yes?

Our universe is composed of

definitely known substances

isn't it?

Elements are fixed forever

in earth unchanging

we know that, don't we?

All of our scientist

based on that

All of our science is

based on that. Go on

In the beginning

man used to think that the world

have only of four elements,

earth, air, fire and water.

They thought that everything

in their universe

could be made out of those.

Yes. Go on.

But They were wrong, weren't they?

They were wrong.

Now we know that

there are 78 elements

The elements over there

on the shelves

and we believe that there are

some elements still unknown

but we assume that...

these missing elements

have the same character

as those we know already.

That is right

Pierre

What if there is

a kind of matter in the world

we never even dream of?

What would that mean?

Marie, that would mean

that our whole conception of the

nature of matter would

have to be changed.

It is cold in here.

Tell me what you are thinking.

I don't quite dare.

Go on and say it now matter

how crazy it sounds.

What if we did not make a mistake

in our measurement?

What if the conception

of science is wrong?

What if there exists a matter

that is not in earth

but alive, dynamic?

Do we dare think that our

four missing points

these strange power

is of 1/1000%?

Pierre.

We have discovered a new element.

An active element.

The residue for pitch blende.

What was left over

After I extract

the uranium and the thoarum

it must be in there.

Where it is?

In the resin...

Close the curtains.

Ready?

Marie, if your four missing

points are here

our notion of the universe

will be changed.

Ready? Read.

Four.

Oh, Pierre.

Marie. This new concept.

If we can prove the existence

of this new element

it may enable us to look into

the secret of life itself

deeper than ever before in the

history of the world.

Madame Curie, you must realize

that the board

has given you repetition

every consideration. However...

the university has not an

extensive budget

for the creation of

new laboratories

and for the new equipment

you ask for.

You state that...

you and Dr. Curie had detected

the presence of a new element

an active element.

But unfortunately

you have given us

no convincing proof

of its existence.

We have demonstrated of

its existence experimentally.

We have carried on our

research intensely

except for five weeks

in the autumn.

In September

my daughter was born

and a week later

my husband has the misfortune to

lose his mother.

But the rest of the time, we have

devoted entirely to research.

And yet in this eight

or nine months

you have came no closer

to any proof

as to the existence of ah...

what is the name of it?

Ah, my wife has named it radium.

Oh yes, radium

I should like to ask

Dr. Curie a question.

Yes, Professor Roger

This work.

Will it require

quite a little time

will it not? Yes, of course.

But you are already

teaching at school

of physics and chemistry.

And Madam Curie is teaching at

the normal school at Sebra.

It would be

a formidable undertaking

under the best of circumstances.

Under these conditions

hardly seems promising.

And Madam Curie, in spite of

her acknowledged abilities is

if you would permit me

to say so young

inexperienced, and a woman.

Gentleman. If you please.

This remark seems to me

entirely irrelevant.

It is perfectly true

that Madame Curie is young

that she has not

had the experience

that most of us have had

and as you say she is a woman.

But let me impress upon you

gentlemen

that she is of most unusual woman

I might say her, ah

a most unusual woman.

You can't classify her

with that term

I have had the opportunity of

observing Madam Curie

very closely

and I can assure you, gentlemen

that she is remarkable scientist

as scrupulous as she is brilliant

and furthermore...

Of course, gentlemen

you understand

that I am looking upon

Madame Curie

with complete coolness

and complete detachment

as I would in judging

any other colleague.

We understand that

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