RD.COM Knowledge Facts
From penicillin and anesthesia to saccharin and silly putty, chance played a major role in some of the world’s great inventions.
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Penicillin
Inventor: Alexander Fleming
Year: 1928
What Happened: Halfway through an experiment with bacteria, Alexander Fleming up and went on vacation. Slob that he was, he left a dirty petri dish in the lab sink.
Big Discovery: When he got back, he found bacteria had grown all over the plate, except in an area where mold had formed.
As a Result: That discovery led to two things: 1) penicillin and 2) Mrs. Fleming hiring a maid. Few other inventions can top that one, though these famous inventions from every state may rank right up there!