In 1928, Alexander Fleming observed a bacterial culture where mold accidentally developed. Around her, an area catches her attention: the bacteria have disappeared.
A contamination could simply cause an experiment to be thrown away. Here, absence becomes a clue. Fleming is studying the effect of mold and the antibacterial substance that will be called penicillin. The observation does not immediately provide a drug ready to produce and distribute.
Other researchers, including Howard Florey and Ernst Chain, played a key role in the sequel. The story is therefore less due to the miracle of a distracted man than to a succession of works. In the beginning, there was an accident. For it to become a discovery, someone had to look at the empty circle and decide that they deserved a question.
What we know
The initial discovery and development of a usable treatment are two distinct steps, involving multiple teams.
To go to the source
References consulted on September 20, 2026. Linked pages may be in another language.
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