Discovery
17 questions tagged Discovery — spanning every one of the seven Ws.
Where Is the Amazon Reef?
The Amazon Reef is an extensive coral and sponge system discovered in 2016 on the ocean floor off the mouth of the Amazon River in northern Brazil.
When did the first living coelacanth get photographed after being thought extinct?
The first living coelacanth was discovered in 1938, and it was photographed soon after.
When were penguins first described by European scientists?
Penguins were described by Europeans in the early 16th century, after voyages to the southern oceans.
When was the Komodo dragon first scientifically described?
The Komodo dragon was scientifically described in 1912, after specimens reached researchers in the Dutch East Indies. It was formally named by Dutch zoologist Peter Ouwens.
Where was helium first isolated on Earth?
In London, England. William Ramsay isolated helium in 1895 after studying the mineral cleveite.
Where was fluorine first isolated?
Fluorine was first isolated in Paris, France, in 1886. Henri Moissan achieved the breakthrough by electrolysis of potassium hydrogen fluoride.
Where was the rare earth element terbium first discovered?
It was first discovered in Ytterby, Sweden, in 1843. The town gave its name to several elements, including terbium.
Where were yttrium, erbium, and ytterbium first discovered?
They were first identified from minerals found in Ytterby, Sweden. The village became one of the most famous places in chemistry history.
Where was the element polonium first discovered?
It was discovered in Paris, France, in 1898. Marie and Pierre Curie found it in uranium ore.
Where was radium first discovered?
It was discovered in Paris, France, in 1898. Marie and Pierre Curie isolated it from pitchblende.
When was the platypus first scientifically described?
The platypus was first formally described in 1799.
When was the echidna first scientifically described?
The first scientific descriptions of echidnas appeared in the early 19th century, beginning in 1802.
When was the giant panda first scientifically described?
The giant panda was first described by Western science in 1869.
When was the okapi first scientifically described?
The okapi was first scientifically described in 1901.
When was the pygmy hippopotamus first scientifically described?
The pygmy hippopotamus was first scientifically described in 1849.
When was the giant anteater first scientifically described?
The giant anteater was first formally described by science in 1758.
Whose name is attached to the first scientific description of the coelacanth?
The first scientific description of the living coelacanth is credited to J. L. B. Smith, who identified the famous East African specimen in 1938. The fish was thought extinct for about 66 million years before that discovery.