A messy lab led to penicillin's discovery
Alexander Fleming's messy lab led to the accidental discovery of penicillin, a life-saving antibiotic that has revolutionized medicine and saved an estimated 200 million lives.
Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928, all thanks to his notoriously messy lab. Returning from vacation, he noticed mold contaminating a bacterial culture plate, killing bacteria around it. Instead of discarding it, Fleming investigated, identifying the mold as Penicillium notatum, which secreted a bacteria-killing substance he called penicillin.
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