Marie Curie was a Polish scientist and atheist<ref>http://womenshistory.about.com/od/mariecurie/p/marie_curie.htm</ref> who did extensive work on radioactivity and radioactive materials along with her husband, Pierre.
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She discovered two elements, previously unknown, both radioactive. One of them she named ''polonium'' in honor of her native Poland, the other ''radium.''
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The ''Curie,'' a unit of radioactivity, is named in her honour.