Who discovered penicillin?

Penicillin was discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928. He was a Scottish bacteriologist who made this groundbreaking discovery while working at St. Mary's Hospital in London. Fleming observed that a mold called Penicillium notatum had contaminated one of his Petri dishes and was killing the surrounding bacteria. This accidental observation led to the development of penicillin, which became the first widely used antibiotic and revolutionized the treatment of bacterial infections.

Fleming's work laid the foundation for modern antibiotics, making a significant impact on medical science and public health. His discovery highlighted the potential of natural products for therapeutic use and has saved countless lives since its introduction into medical practice.

The other individuals listed have made significant contributions to science but are associated with different fields; for example, Louis Pasteur is renowned for his work in microbiology and the germ theory of disease, Marie Curie is famous for her groundbreaking research on radioactivity, and Albert Einstein is celebrated for his contributions to theoretical physics, particularly the theory of relativity.