The discovery of buckyball (C₆₀) was reported in 2010 in two separate studies, one by Cami et al. (in Tc 1, a young planetary nebula), the other by Selgren et al. (in the Iris nebula, NGC 7023). It has also been observed in the Small Magellanic Cloud by Garcia-Hernández et al.

Buckyball -- or more precisely -- Buckminsterfullerene has only been known experimentally for about 25 years, though it is known to be present in soot as well as in out space. It is sometimes known as soccerballene because of it shares the pattern of hexagons and pentagons of a soccer ball.