Radium

About Radium

The celebrated discovery of Marie and Pierre Curie, from tons of uranium ore, named from the Latin radius, ray. A gram of radium glows faintly blue and stays warmer than its surroundings. Radium paint on watch dials poisoned the Radium Girls, whose court fight transformed worker safety law. Once sold in tonics and toothpaste before the dangers sank in. Its decay produces radon gas.