Women in History · Head-to-head
Marie Curie vs Lise Meitner
Yes — based on their recorded years, Marie Curie (1867–1934) and Lise Meitner (1878–1968) were alive at the same time for at least part of their lives.
Marie Curie
A pioneering scientist who researched radioactivity and became the first person to win Nobel Prizes in two sciences.
Key achievements
- Discovered the elements polonium and radium alongside Pierre Curie
- Won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903 and the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1911
- Developed mobile X-ray units used to treat wounded soldiers during World War I
- Became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the first person to win in two sciences
Fast fact
Curie named polonium after her birthplace, Poland.
Full profile of Marie Curie →Lise Meitner
Lise Meitner was an Austrian-Swedish nuclear physicist who was instrumental in the discovery of nuclear fission, though the Nobel Prize for the discovery was awarded solely to her male collaborator.
Key achievements
- Became the second woman to earn a doctorate in physics from the University of Vienna.
- Was instrumental in the discovery of nuclear fission in 1938.
- Continued groundbreaking research in nuclear physics despite being forced to flee Nazi Germany due to her Jewish heritage.
- Has the element meitnerium named in her honor.
Fast fact
Meitner's essential contributions to the discovery of nuclear fission were overlooked when the 1944 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded solely to her longtime collaborator Otto Hahn, a decision widely regarded by historians of science as a significant injustice.
Full profile of Lise Meitner →Who lived first, Marie Curie or Lise Meitner?
Marie Curie (1867–1934) lived first, before Lise Meitner (1878–1968), based on their recorded years.
Were Marie Curie and Lise Meitner contemporaries?
Yes — based on their recorded years, Marie Curie (1867–1934) and Lise Meitner (1878–1968) were alive at the same time for at least part of their lives.
What do Marie Curie and Lise Meitner have in common?
Both Marie Curie and Lise Meitner are grouped among our Women in History figures and lived during the Modern Era.