The history of antibiotics began with ancient cultures unintentionally discovering that mold and fermented substances had antibacterial properties. In the late 19th century, scientists began purposefully experimenting with microbes and discovered that some molds and actinomycetes produced substances that specifically inhibited or killed bacteria. Major developments included Fleming's discovery of penicillin in 1928 and the mass production of penicillin during World War II. Since then, scientists have discovered several classes of antibiotics by isolating antibiotic-producing microorganisms or synthesizing new compounds, but bacterial resistance continues to rise due to overuse and misuse of antibiotics.