Marie Curie's educational background informed her research in radioactivity through rigorous training in physics and mathematics. Studying at the University of Paris, she collaborated with her husband, Pierre Curie, to explore the properties of radioactive elements. Her groundbreaking discoveries of polonium and radium greatly advanced the scientific understanding of radiation and led to practical applications in medicine. Curie's pioneering work earned her two Nobel Prizes, making her a notable figure in both physics and chemistry.