Marie Curie, known as the "mother of modern physics," died from aplastic anemia, a rare condition linked to high levels of exposure to her famed discoveries, the radioactive elements polonium and radium.

Curie, the only woman to win a Nobel Prize in two different fields (physics and chemistry), furthered the research of French physicist Henri Becquerel, who in 1896 discovered that the element uranium emitted rays.

Marie and Pierre Curie in their laboratory in Paris. via Atmoic Heritage Fund Curie and her French physicist husband, Pierre, discovered a new radioactive element in 1898.

The duo named the element polonium, after Poland, Marie's native country.

Still, after more than 100 years, much of Curie's personal effects including her clothes, furniture, cookbooks, and laboratory notes remain contaminated by radiation, the Christian Science Monitor reports.

Regarded as national and scientific treasures, Curie's laboratory notebooks are stored in lead-lined boxes at France's national library in Paris.

Marie Curie's notebook containing notes of experiments on radioactive substances. Wellcome Library

While the library allows visitors to view Curie's manuscripts, all guests are expected to sign a liability waiver and wear protective gear as the items are contaminated with radium 226, which has a half-life of about 1,600 years, according to Christian Science Monitor.

Since Curie's belongings are already about 100 years old, it will take another 1,500 years until they are half as radioactive as they are now.

Curie's laboratory notebook. Wellcome Library, London Curie's body is also contaminated by radiation and was therefore placed in a coffin lined with nearly an inch of lead.

The Curies are buried in France's Panthéon, a mausoleum in Paris that contains the remains of distinguished French citizens — including philosophers Rousseau and Voltaire.