Question: how many things have you found that no one has ever found before??

Simone Sturniolo answered on 19 Jun 2013:

Well, as researchers, we always work on something that is “frontier” and undiscovered – if we researched stuff we already know, what would be the point :D? So, in a sense, we continuously find out things that no one has ever found before. The real problem is whether those things are useful or meaningful, and if we’re able to understand them properly. For example, you may perform an experiment that no one has ever performed before, and find out results that are absolutely boring and uninteresting – so there’s not much new there.
I can think of two or three ‘new’ things that I believe I have been the first person to find out and that could be of use to someone – none of which too impressive, though, for now. As I said, finding out new things is our job, so it’s nothing out of the ordinary if we do. Really impressive discoveries, life-changing ones, are maybe one in a million though – that’s why recognitions such as the Nobel prize exist, for scientist who not only make discoveries, but who make REALLY GREAT discoveries!