Louis Pasteur, contrary to the theory advocated by Needham (theory of ambiogenesis. This theory defends the idea that life can be spontaneously generated from inanimate matter), placed broth in a long-necked glass balloon that It was then curved into an "S" shape. This broth was boiled and remained sterile for a long time even with the glass open. There was no microorganism in this broth.
As the vial has been sterilized and the neck has been bent, the microorganisms present in the air are retained in the curve. It was important to keep the bottle open because proponents of the theory of abiogenesis claimed that a glass with a lid prevents the entry of the "active principle," according to them a nonmaterial life force. With the experiment, Pasteur proved that living things originate from other pre-existing ones, in this case air microorganisms.
