In recent years, however, the discovery of what researchers describe as a large "hole" in the ozone over Antarctica has caused alarm and spurred intensified research.

The discovery of gold spurred the first white settlement of the region in 1852.

The new discoveries are spurring physicians of all persuasions to take heed of paraneoplastic syndrome, and that awareness can make a considerable difference for patients.

Spanish discoveries spurred the English to try settling America and paved the way for the latecomers' eventual success.

The recent discovery of two new hoofed creatures in the Vietnamese wilderness has spurred the search for others.

This discovery spurred an explosion of new bee research in molecular biology and genomics.

The discovery of pentazoles spurred attempts to create all-nitrogen salts, which should be highly potent propellants for space travel.

Now, though, recent discoveries about the immune system have spurred interest in modern descendants of Coley's toxins.

That discovery in 1977, along with parallel research by others into the electrical properties of smaller, unlinked carbon-based molecules, spurred scientists into imagining new possibilities.

Nevertheless, experts believe that the discovery of FK-506 and other drugs will spur further efforts to find new agents in the soil.