Marie Curie made some of the profound discoveries and contributions to science while working on uranic rays. Her unexceptional work on polonium and radium gave surge to radiochemistry.
Curie's notebook tells us the story of the level of radiation she was exposed to, so powerful that even after many decades, the notebook is still radioactive and requires protective clothing for handling and sign a liability waiver. Looking into the facts and the level of radiation, It makes perfect sense that she was walking around the laboratory with bottles, containing polonium and radium.