Recent Examples on the WebWhile Kroto and Smalley pursued further buckyball research, Dr. Curl soon moved on to other areas of interest. Kenneth Chang, BostonGlobe.com, 20 July 2022 In 1996 Kroto, Curl and Smalley were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their roles in discovering the molecule, called buckminsterfullerene, or just fullerene (also known as a buckyball). Ryan C. Fortenberry, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2020 Kroto was convinced that buckyballs were present in space and were likely to be the source of some DIB fingerprints. Ryan C. Fortenberry, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2020