The Accidental Discovery That Changed Medicine
A Surprising Observation: In 1928, Scottish scientist Alexander Fleming made an unexpected discovery that would change medicine forever. While studying bacteria at St. Mary's Hospital in London, he left petri dishes containing Staphylococcus bacteria uncovered before going on vacation. When he returned, he noticed something unusual. A blue-green mold, later identified as Penicillium notatum , had grown on one of the dishes. Around the mold, the bacteria had been destroyed. Fleming realized this mold was releasing a substance that could kill bacteria.