History of discovery; exploring space

A discovery is finding something that exists but was not known; an invention is thinking up and making something new. In ancient times people mastered fire and learnt to cook and keep warm. The wheel made carrying loads easier. Writing passed knowledge down the generations and printing spread books to many people. The steam engine, then electricity and the aeroplane changed life deeply. Many inventions came from watching nature: the flight of birds inspired the makers of aeroplanes, and the tiny hooks of burrs that stick to clothes gave the idea for hook-and-loop tape (Velcro). Great scholars also came from the land of Uzbekistan: Muhammad al-Khwarizmi was one of the founders of algebra and calculation; Abu Rayhan Beruni calculated the size of the Earth; Ibn Sino made great contributions to medicine; Mirzo Ulugbek built an observatory in Samarkand and observed the stars. New discoveries always build on earlier knowledge.