women in science

NEVADA GUIENCE

Have you ever wanted an answer to a really big question? Well, you’re not alone. Scientists ask and answer big questions all the time. And some of the best questions asked and the best discoveries made, have come from women.

What is radioactivity? You may know it as the scientific power that turned Bruce Banner into the Hulk, but in reality, although radioactivity can be harmful in many ways, it also has many significant benefits. In fact, it helps your smoke alarm work, treats diseases and can also produce energy for electrical power. But who discovered it? Marie Curie was a Polish physicist and chemist who contributed many scientific findings to the world. She discovered two elements (which is super impressive!) - Radium and Polonium. And thanks to her, we know what radioactivity is; the breaking down and decay of atoms. Her discoveries meant our world could be more aware and safe. Sadly, Marie died because of exposure to radiation - it can be incredibly harmful, and unfortunately, at the time, no one knew of the terrible consequences of radiation poisoning.

Have you ever wondered why you look the way you do? Well, you owe most of it to DNA - the genetic material you inherited from your parents. People can trace your family tree from looking at your DNA. It determines traits like your eye colour, hair colour, and height. It was found by Rosalind Franklin. She was the one who captured the first image of it - the double helix structure - an astonishing discovery. One that was stolen by two male colleagues - James Watson and Francis Crick who (would you believe) won the Nobel Prize for the discovery! Luckily, many years later people realised what really happened, and she is now commended for her achievements.

Stars. You look up at the night sky and see thousands of them twinkling - even though they’re actually enormous, burning balls of hydrogen and helium. For example, our sun, a yellow dwarf star, is 1.3927 million km in diameter. Just think about that! Stars are incredibly fascinating galactic objects. And the person who discovered what they’re made of - Cecilia Payne, a British astronomer, was another female scientist whose work was stolen by a man! Henry Norris Russell actually discouraged her from her work for years before he claimed the discovery.

Women have often been restricted from getting an education, especially in the past. Previously, women weren’t allowed to publish scientific papers - some of them had to use pseudonyms instead of their real names as many people thought that they were not as smart as men. Many women risked everything to follow their passion for science

These days, lots of women choose careers in science - and the wonderful thing about it is that now, there is nothing that can stop them.

I hope that you too, now knowing what women are capable of - spend some time each day thinking about a really big question you’ve asked. And maybe someday you’ll make a great discovery. Just like all these amazing female scientists. As Rosalind Franklin once said: “Science and everyday life cannot and should not be separated”.