Henri Becquerel

Antoine Henri Becquerel was born on December 15, 1852, in Paris, France. Coming from a family with a strong scientific background, Becquerel was inclined towards the sciences from an early age. He would later contribute significantly to the field of physics with his discovery of natural radioactivity, which laid the groundwork for future research in nuclear physics.

In early 1896, Henri Becquerel discovered radioactivity inadvertently while investigating phosphorescence in uranium salts. After leaving a photographic plate wrapped in black paper and placed under sunlight, he found that even without sunlight, the uranium salts emitted rays that fogged the plate. This led to the recognition of the phenomenon of natural radioactivity.

The rays discovered by Henri Becquerel in 1896 were initially referred to as 'Becquerel rays'. Over time, these were understood to be a form of ionizing radiation, and alongside the work of the Curies, Becquerel's discovery was instrumental in understanding radioactive decay processes.

Henri Becquerel was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903, shared with Marie Curie and Pierre Curie, for their joint researches on the radiation phenomena. Becquerel was recognized for his discovery of spontaneous radioactivity by demonstrating that the radiation emitted by uranium salts was a property of the element itself.

Henri Becquerel passed away on August 25, 1908, in Le Croisic, France. Throughout his career, Becquerel made significant contributions to physics, most notably his discovery of radioactivity, which paved the way for major advancements in both scientific research and practical applications in medicine and industry.