Discovery of Penicillin

Hello there. My name is Alexander Fleming, and I am a scientist. I have always loved studying the tiny, invisible world all around us. My laboratory is my favorite place, filled with glass bottles, shiny tubes, and special round dishes that I use for my experiments. I spend my days looking through my microscope at very small things called germs, or bacteria, which can sometimes make people feel unwell. I want to understand how they work so I can help people stay healthy. Now, I must admit a little secret about myself. I can be a bit messy. Sometimes I get so excited about a new idea that I forget to wash my dishes or tidy up my workspace. My desk often has stacks of books and papers, and the sink might have a few unwashed dishes. But as you will see, my little bit of messiness led to a very happy accident and one of the most important discoveries ever.

I had been away from my lab on a nice, long holiday. When I returned in September of 1928, I knew I had a lot of cleaning to do before I could start my new work. As I was tidying up my workbench, I picked up a small, round glass dish that I had forgotten all about. I looked inside and saw that a fuzzy, greenish-blue mold was growing in it, a bit like the fuzz you might see on a piece of old bread. My first thought was to just throw it out and wash the dish properly. But then, my curious scientist brain told me to wait and look closer. I noticed something very peculiar and wonderful. All around the fuzzy spot of mold, there was a clear, empty circle. The bad germs that I had been growing in that dish were gone from that area. It was as if the mold had built an invisible fence to keep the germs away. I said to myself, 'That's funny.' I knew right away that this was not just ordinary mold. It was something special.

My heart started beating with excitement. I felt like a treasure hunter who had just found a secret map. This fuzzy mold was making something, a kind of 'magic juice' that stopped the bad germs in their tracks. I realized this could be a powerful weapon against sickness. I carefully took a piece of the mold and started growing more of it so I could study its special juice. I gave my discovery a name: penicillin. It took many more years and the hard work of other smart scientists to turn my discovery into a medicine that doctors could use. But that little bit of mold from my messy lab became a super medicine that has helped save millions and millions of lives all over the world. It just goes to show that you should always stay curious and look closely at the world around you. Sometimes, a big discovery can come from a small surprise.