This experiment, conducted in the mid-19th century, was a crucial step in disproving the theory of spontaneous generation, which claimed that living organisms could arise from non-living matter. Pasteur's experiment showed that:
* Boiled broth: When broth was boiled and then sealed, no bacteria grew. This demonstrated that boiling killed existing microorganisms.
* Unboiled broth: When broth was left unboiled, bacteria grew. This indicated that microorganisms were present in the air and could contaminate the broth.
This experiment helped to establish the germ theory of disease, which states that microorganisms are the cause of many diseases.
