Accidental events and coincidences have often changed the fate of breakthrough researches, cornering some of the most brilliant minds in human history.

Thirty-five years before Alexander Fleming, Penicillin was studied by a scientist in Molise, southern Italy. Cephalosporins were discovered in a laboratory at the University of Cagliari, Sardinia, in the middle of WWII. Why Otto Hahn stolen from her friend and former laboratory colleague Lise Meitner the discovery of nuclear fission? And was Ida Noddack really boycotted by Enrico Fermi?

From chemistry to medicine, physics, biology and mathematics, Geni nell’ombra tells the stories of some of the true protagonists of the most incredible scientific discoveries, who often had their ideas stolen from them.

Milly Barba is Head of marketing and Communication in a technology company, and has more than a decade of experience in scientific communication.

Debora Serra writes about science and medicine on the websites of public institutions, and designs and implements scientific communication projects and festivals.