Buckminsterfullerene

Buckminsterfullerene, commonly known as "buckyballs," is a type of molecule made entirely of carbon atoms. It forms a spherical shape resembling a soccer ball, composed of 60 carbon atoms arranged in a pattern of hexagons and pentagons. Discovered in 1985, it is named after architect Richard Buckminster Fuller, who designed geodesic domes. Buckeyballs are part of a broader class of molecules called fullerenes and have potential applications in materials science, nanotechnology, and medicine due to their unique properties, such as strength and electrical conductivity.