Who discovered the antibiotic penicillin?

The discovery of penicillin is attributed to Alexander Fleming, who made this groundbreaking find in 1928. While conducting experiments with Staphylococcus bacteria, he noticed that a mold called Penicillium notatum had contaminated one of his petri dishes and was inhibiting the growth of the bacteria. This observation led Fleming to the realization that the mold produced a substance capable of killing bacteria, which he later named penicillin. This discovery marked a significant milestone in the field of medicine, as penicillin became the first widely used antibiotic, leading to effective treatments for a range of bacterial infections.

The other individuals listed made notable contributions to science and medicine, but they are not associated with the discovery of penicillin. Louis Pasteur was instrumental in developing the germ theory of disease and vaccine development, Thomas Edison is best known for his inventions in electricity and communication technology, and Marie Curie is renowned for her research on radioactivity and discoveries related to radium and polonium. Each of these figures has their own important legacy, but Alexander Fleming's work with penicillin specifically revolutionized the treatment of infections.