Buckminsterfullerene
Buckminsterfullerene is an allotrope of carbon; it is the only molecular form, at C60It was jointly discovered by Sir Harold Kroto, Richard E. Smalley and Robert F. Curl who received the 1996 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for their work. It was named after the geodesic architecture of Richard Buckminster Fuller, which it resembled. It is commonly referred to as a "buckyball", in reference to its soccer-ball-like structure.
Interesting in these molecules is that they can fit other atoms into their hollow structure. This can have important applications. For example, introducing a lead or iron atom to the center will make the substance paramagnetic. A sugar in the center makes the fullerene soluble in water. A cluster of sulfur atoms makes it explosive. Also toxic molecules can be trapped there for safe introduction into the human body. The two principal centres for producing these compounds are Umeå in Sweden and Bachelburg in Germany.