Fullerene C₆₀, also known as buckminsterfullerene, is a spherical molecule composed of 60 carbon atoms arranged in a structure resembling a soccer ball. Discovered in 1985 by Harold Kroto, Richard Smalley, and Robert Curl, this unique carbon form earned them the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1996. C₆₀ exhibits remarkable stability and electronic properties, valuable in materials science, electronics, and nanotechnology.