Since the beginning of time, man has studied the mysteries of nature and the Earth. The human race has vigorously pursued knowledge of the world around it. This search for knowledge is what we call science. Without science, humanity would not progress. Without scientific discoveries man would be nothing. In the twentieth century, Britain received much recognition from the scientific community thanks to the discovery of penicillin, the creation of the first programmable computer, and groundbreaking work with nuclear transfer. In the early twentieth century, Alexander Fleming made a laboratory mistake that saved hundreds of thousands of lives around the world. “Fleming was born on 6 August 1881 in Lochfield, Ayrshire, a remote part of rural Scotland (“Alexander Fleming”).” As a boy he attended Kilmarnock Academy school until the age of 13. He then went to live with his uncle in London, following the death of his father, and attended the polytechnic there. After a brief period of service in the London Scots Regiment during the Boer War, Fleming attended St. Mary's Medical School at the University of London. In 1928 Fleming became a professor at St. Mary's. One day, while cleaning Petri dishes covered in Staphylococcus, he noticed a strange mold growing on one of the cultures. Examining it carefully, Fleming noticed that no bacteria were growing in the immediate vicinity of the mold. After further experiments, he discovered that the mold could kill the bacteria even after being diluted 800 times! Due to the scientific limitations of the time, Fleming was unable to create a drug from what he discovered to be the blueprint for penicillin. However, he still received the Nobel Prize in 1945 along with the scientists who turned penicillin into a useful paper medium… they wouldn't be as advanced as they are today. So, for this, we are obliged to say: "Cheers Brits!" Works Cited "Alexander Fleming". World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. November 30, 2013. Fridovich-Keil, Juidith L. "Britannica School." British School. Np, nd Web. 07 December 2013.."Penicillin." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. November 30, 2013. Rogers, Kara. "Nuclear Transfer". British School. Np, nd Web. 07 December 2013..Stocum, David. "Somatic cell nuclear transfer". British School. Np, nd Web. 07 December 2013..Trueman, Chris. “Tommy Flowers.” Tommy Flowers. Chris Trueman, December 2011. Web. November 30.2013. .