Alexander Fleming and the Clear Circle
Alexander Fleming was the Scottish bacteriologist whose keen observation reshaped modern medicine. In 1928, he noticed a mold producing a bacteria-free “clear circle” on a Petri dish, leading to the discovery of penicillin. Far from being mere luck, Fleming’s discipline—careful notes, sharp questioning, and patient observation—turned chance into change. His earlier discovery of lysozyme showed his gift for learning from nature’s defenses. Though the Oxford team later refined penicillin into a practical drug, Fleming’s insight laid the foundation for antibiotics, transforming everyday medicine, surgery, and public health while warning early of antibiotic resistance.