Tefania Mrcineanu

Ștefania Mărăcineanu (1882–1944) was a Romanian physicist known for her research on radioactivity. Born in Bucharest to young parents, she completed her education at the University of Bucharest, earning a degree in physical and chemical sciences in 1910. Her thesis on light interference earned her a prize. After teaching in various schools, she moved to Paris in 1919, where she studied radioactivity under Marie Curie at the Sorbonne and later conducted research at the Radium Institute until 1926. She obtained her Ph.D. from the Radium Institute in 1924.

Mărăcineanu's work focused on polonium's half-life and alpha decay, leading her to propose that radioactive isotopes could be formed by polonium's alpha rays. She claimed this discovery was later utilized by Irene Joliot-Curie for her Nobel Prize-winning research on artificial radioactivity in 1935. Mărăcineanu expressed frustration that her contributions were not acknowledged, as noted in letters and historical accounts.

In collaboration with French astronomer Henri-Alexandre Deslandres, she explored whether sunlight could induce radioactivity, a topic covered by the Geraldton Guardian. Returning to Romania, she taught at the University of Bucharest and conducted experiments linking radioactivity to rainfall and earthquakes. She received recognition from the Romanian Academy of Sciences, becoming a corresponding member in 1937 and later Director of Research.

Mandrăcineanu was forced into mandatory retirement at 60 in 1942. She died two years later due to radiation exposure, possibly buried at Bellu Cemetery in Bucharest.