In her doctoral dissertation, the Romanian physicist devoted her time to research on artificial rainfall, and studied the relationship between earthquakes and rainfall, becoming the first to report a significant increase in radioactivity at the epicenter of an earthquake.
Google today honors the memory of Romanian natural Fantefania Mărăcineanu, who was one of the pioneering women in the discovery and radioactivity research.
Mărăcineanu graduated with a degree in physical and chemical science in 1910 and began her career as a teacher at the Central Girls’ School in Bucharest. While there, Mărăcineanu won a scholarship from the Romanian Ministry of Science and then decided to do postgraduate research at the Radium Institute in Paris.
The Institute was done quickly a global center for the study of radioactivity under the guidance of physicist Marie Curie. Mărăcineanu began her doctoral dissertation on polonium, a fact discovered by Curie.
During her research, Mărăcineanu observed that the half-life seemed to be depends on the type of metal on which it was placed. This made her wonder if the alpha rays from the pole had transported some of the metal atoms to radioactive isotopes. Her research led to what is probably the first example of artificial radioactivity.
Mărăcineanu enrolled at the Sorbonne University in Paris to complete her PhD in physics, which she obtained in just two years! After working for four years at the Astronomical Observatory in Meudon, she returned to Romania and established the first laboratory in her homeland to study radioactivity.
Mărăcineanu devoted her time to researching for artificial rain, which included a trip to Algeria to test its results. He also studied the relationship between earthquakes and rainfall, and became the first to mention that it exists significant increase in radioactivity at the epicenter of an earthquake.
In 1935, Irène Currie, daughter of Marie Curie, and her husband received a joint Nobel Prize for the discovery of artificial radioactivity. Mărăcineanu did not dispute the Nobel Prize, but asked for her role in the discovery to be recognized. Mărăcineanu’s work was recognized by the Romanian Academy of Sciences in 1936, where she was elected to serve as Director of Research, but never received worldwide recognition for her discovery.
The Curie Museum in Paris contains tthe authentic chemical laboratory at the Radium Institute, where Mărăcineanu worked.
Today’s Doodle celebrates 140tefania Mărăcineanu’s 140th birthday and pays tribute to her heritage.
