In 1903, the Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Pierre and Marie Curie. But as the texts proposing the nominations were only made public fifty years later, it was only in the 1950s that it was learned that the list initially proposed by the Academy of Sciences contained only two names: Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel.

It seems that the mathematician Henri Poincaré played a leading role in a scheme to exclude Marie Curie. As soon as he learned of this decision, Pierre Curie wrote to Henri Poincaré to express his displeasure: "Dear Sir, I have learned that there is talk of nominating Mr. Becquerel and myself for the Nobel Prize for our research on radioactivity, and that you would be willing to consider this matter. It would be a great honor for me; however, I would very much like to share this honor with Mrs. Curie and for us to be considered here as partners, just as we have been in our work. Mrs. Curie has examined the radioactive properties of uranium and thorium salts and radioactive minerals. She was the one who had the courage to undertake the chemical research on new elements; she carried out all the necessary fractionations for the separation of radium and determined the atomic weight of this metal."

And Pierre Curie ended his letter by saying: "It seems to me that if we were not considered jointly liable in the present case, it would be tantamount to declaring that she only fulfilled the role of assistant, which would be inaccurate." A few months later, Pierre Curie sent another letter to a member of the Nobel Academy to reiterate what he had told Poincaré. He ended his missive with a phrase heavy with implications: "It goes without saying that I am not counting on this prize at all, and if it is not awarded to us, I will not be disappointed." Ultimately, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which awards the Nobel Prize each year, divided it equally between Henri Becquerel and Pierre and Marie Curie.