In 1911, science superstar and Nobel Prize winner Marie Curie was in the all-too-familiar position famous women often find themselves in ― her private life was the target of public scorn.
At the time, Curie was romantically involved with fellow scientist Paul Langevin, a dashing father of four who, though married, was estranged from his wife. Langevin’s spouse, Jeanne, made Curie out to be a home wrecker, and the media pounced on it.
At one point, when returning home to France after a conference, Curie and her two young daughters were greeted by an angry mob that surrounded their house. Frightened, they had to move in with a friend until the scandal fizzled out.
The world’s other global scientific celebrity at the time, Albert Einstein, who had became acquainted with Curie, was enraged by the media’s actions and wrote his friend a letter, which can be succinctly summed up as “Ignore the haters.”
In the letter Einstein refers to the media and Curie's detractors as "rabble" and "reptiles " -- basically the trolls of yesteryear. He also compliments her "intellect," "drive," and "honesty," and adds a charming postscript in which he humbly discusses a concept he's working on.
Science bros 4 lyfe.
