Who discovered penicillin in 1928?

The discovery of penicillin in 1928 is attributed to Alexander Fleming, a Scottish bacteriologist. While researching Staphylococcus bacteria, he noticed that a mold called Penicillium notatum had contaminated one of his Petri dishes. To his surprise, he found that the bacteria surrounding the mold were being killed off, indicating that the mold produced a substance that inhibited bacterial growth. This substance was later named penicillin, and it became the first widely used antibiotic, revolutionizing medicine and saving countless lives. Fleming's discovery highlighted the importance of serendipity in scientific research and laid the groundwork for the development of antibiotic treatments.

The other individuals mentioned were influential in their own fields but did not discover penicillin. Louis Pasteur, known for his work in microbiology and vaccination, developed the germ theory but was not involved in antibiotic discovery. Marie Curie focused on radioactivity and won Nobel Prizes in physics and chemistry, while Ernest Shackleton was an explorer famous for his Antarctic expeditions. Their contributions, although significant, are unrelated to the discovery of penicillin.