The Scientist Who Created Radioactivity on Demand

Irène Joliot-Curie transformed nuclear science by discovering artificial radioactivity with her husband, Frédéric Joliot-Curie. Born in Paris in 1897 to Marie and Pierre Curie, she served as a radiographer during the First World War, completed a doctorate on polonium in 1925 and continued research at the Radium Institute. In 1934 the couple created new radioactive isotopes by bombarding stable elements. This documentary follows the breakthrough that earned the 1935 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. an e

Artificial radioactivity made it possible to produce radioisotopes for medicine, scientific tracing and nuclear research rather than relying only on naturally radioactive materials. Joliot-Curie's achievement helped transform diagnostics, cancer treatment and the study of chemical processes. Her career also extended beyond the laboratory into education, public service and advocacy for women in science. This documentary reveals how she moved beyond a famous family name to create a scientific legacy of her own.