Serendipitous Scientific Discoveries

The cluster focuses on the awe and fascination with an unexpected scientific discovery, debating its value as a breakthrough despite lacking immediate practical applications and emphasizing serendipity and the potential for future impacts from basic research.

📉 Falling 0.4x Science
3,114
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#4631
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2007
9
2008
19
2009
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2010
64
2011
77
2012
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2013
102
2014
118
2015
134
2016
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2017
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2018
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2019
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2021
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2022
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2026
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Keywords

ycombinator.com IS CRISPR GPS OTHER DNA discoveries discovery breakthrough scientific discovered fascinating research centuries wonder science

Sample Comments

tuatoru Oct 7, 2025 View on HN

This seems like one of those "hmmm, that's odd" moments that could lead to a scientific breakthrough.

adventured Feb 28, 2013 View on HN

Makes me wonder about the unintended positive side effects of new discoveries.

sidcool Oct 12, 2019 View on HN

While Scientific discovery would never stop, a milestone like this would be significant. And it would warrant awe.

orwin Aug 10, 2022 View on HN

It is fascinating. I'm not imagining scifi application or anything, this discovery in itself is fascinating.

bloopernova Aug 13, 2023 View on HN

What an utterly delightful and eminently understandable presentation of a complex subject!I know that it would take decades or centuries to gather enough data to make discoveries. But I wonder if one day a scientist will be looking at these results and see something that makes them think "that's odd..." And suddenly our understanding of the universe is turned upside down yet again!

What if some scientist has a breakthrough thought while reading this?

totetsu Nov 28, 2024 View on HN

Any great discoveries you mightn’t have made otherwise?

leal Mar 9, 2013 View on HN

It's amazing how many things are discovered this way.

technoguyrob Oct 3, 2008 View on HN

With the history of unusual ways things have been discovered in science, I'm not sure if that is sarcasm.

wodenokoto Oct 5, 2015 View on HN

If it can't be applied for anything useful, was it really a scientific breakthrough?