Who Discovered Radioactivity?

Radioactivity has been linked to many great names. But, who actually discovered radioactivity? And, when was radioactivity discovered?

Who discovered radioactivity?

The discovery of radioactivity was credited to French physicist Antoine-Henri Becquerel (1852-1908).

How was radioactivity discovered?

At the end of the 19th Century, physicists began studying various forms of radiation. French physicist Antoine-Henri Becquerel was particularly interested in fluorescence which is the phenomenon whereby certain materials can absorb light and then emit at different time. Physicist Antoine Henri Becquerel was looking for evidence that fluorescent molecules generate x-rays by studying a Uranium containing molecule.

However, Antoine-Henri Becquerel found that the molecule emits radiation regardless of the experimental conditions. This was the first demonstration and experiment of radioactivity. Others who did great work on radioactivity are Marie Curie, Pierre Curie, and Rutherford.