1940 In a cave east of Fallon, Nev. archaeologists found a mummy later to be determined to be over 9,400 years old. It became known as the Spirit Cave Man.
Remains Found thought to be Amelia Earhart
1940 Bones found on Gardner Island, in Kiribati suspected to be remains of Amelia Earhart, the missing female pilot.
1941 Dr. Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin.
Source of Encephalitis
1941 Professor William Reeves and William M. Hammon discovered two viruses that cause encephalitis. The virus was carried by a mosquito.
Chemist Discovers Gene
1941 George Beadle, geneticist, and Edward Tatum, chemist, discovered that a gene was something on a chromosome that specified an enzyme.
Treatment for Polio
Dec. 5, 1941 Sister Elizabeth Kenny’s treatment for polio was approved.
Treatment for Streptococcal Meningitis
Oct. 9, 1943 Alexander Fleming successfully treated streptococcal meningitis with injections of penicillin.
New Antibiotic to Treat TB
Apr. 27, 1944 Dr. H. Corwin Hinshaw cured TB-infected guinea pigs with the new antibiotic, streptomycin. In 1945, streptomycin was first used to treat TB in humans.
First Eye Bank
May 8, 1944 The first “eye bank” began in N.Y. City.
