The Mold That Saved the World episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 8, 2026 · 22 MIN

The Mold That Saved the World

from The Breaking Point · host Podcaster

In 1928, Alexander Fleming returned from vacation to find his bacterial cultures ruined by a mysterious mold. Most scientists would have thrown the contaminated dishes away—but Fleming's curiosity about this 'failed' experiment led to penicillin, the discovery that would save more lives than any other in human history. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In 1928, Alexander Fleming returned from vacation to find his bacterial cultures ruined by a mysterious mold. Most scientists would have thrown the contaminated dishes away—but Fleming's curiosity about this 'failed' experiment led to penicillin, the discovery that would save more lives than any other in human history.

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The Mold That Saved the World

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This episode was published on June 8, 2026.

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In 1928, Alexander Fleming returned from vacation to find his bacterial cultures ruined by a mysterious mold. Most scientists would have thrown the contaminated dishes away—but Fleming's curiosity about this 'failed' experiment led to penicillin,...

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