Discovered : by Marie Curie in 1898 Isolated in Paris, France Origin : Marie Curie named the element after her homeland Poland. Description : Marie Curie isolated polonium from the uranium ore, pitchblend, in which it exists in tiny amounts. It is a radioactive metal produced today in gramme quantities from bismuth in nuclear reactors, and used as a source of alpha radiation or as a heat source in space vehicles. Image : Polonium used in early Soyuz type satellites.