National C60 Day, observed every October 9, commemorates the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery of fullerenes. C60 Power, a woman-owned wellness company specializing in Carbon 60 products for people and animals, created the observance to recognize the scientific milestone and to make reliable C60 education more accessible. The date marks the anniversary of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences’ announcement on October 9, 1996, honoring chemists Robert Curl, Harold Kroto, and Richard Smalley for their discovery of the C60 molecule. The holiday, also known as National Carbon 60 Day, C60 Day, or Carbon 60 Day, highlights a molecule that continues to attract interest in chemistry, materials science, nanotechnology, energy, skincare, and wellness.
C60, also called buckminsterfullerene or a “buckyball,” is a hollow, spherical molecule made of exactly 60 carbon atoms arranged in 12 pentagons and 20 hexagons, the same pattern found on a classic soccer ball. In 1985, British chemist Harold Kroto joined Rice University scientists Robert Curl and Richard Smalley to recreate the chemistry of carbon-rich stars in the laboratory, and their experiments revealed C60. Kroto, a longtime admirer of architect R. Buckminster Fuller’s geodesic domes, helped give the molecule its name in honor of Buckminster. In 1990, Wolfgang Krätschmer and Donald Huffman developed a method to produce C60 in quantities large enough to study, and the journal Science named buckminsterfullerene its Molecule of the Year for 1991. In 2010, astronomers using NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope detected C60 in Tc 1, a cloud of gas and dust shed by a dying star, the first confirmed sighting of buckyballs in space.
“National C60 Day gives us an opportunity to honor the science that introduced this extraordinary molecule to the world. This holiday may help consumers understand the importance of purity, and 3rd-party testing, along with the opportunity to learn more about the potential of the molecule,” said Jessica MacNaughton, CEO and cofounder of C60 Power. “Our goal is to make reliable C60 education more accessible and give people the information they need to make informed choices for themselves and their animals.”
Since its discovery, C60 research has expanded into multiple scientific fields. Its ability to interact with free radicals is one reason C60 continues to attract attention in antioxidant research. Interest in C60 and healthy aging grew after a 2012 study reported that rats given C60 dissolved in olive oil lived longer than untreated rats. Consumers can review published studies at WhatIsC60.org and ShopC60.com/research.
To celebrate National C60 Day, C60 Power encourages the public to share the story by posting a buckyball sketch, a molecule model, or a surprising fact and tagging @C60Power with #NationalC60Day, #Carbon60, and #C60. Another way to participate is to explore the research at WhatIsC60.org or ShopC60.com/research and share a study or question on social media. The company also suggests taking the C60 Challenge: purchasing C60 at ShopC60.com on October 9 and downloading the C60 30-Day Challenge Journal to track a C60 routine and how one feels. The journal is available at https://shopc60.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/c60-journal.pdf.
For National C60 Day, C60 Power is offering a 20% storewide sale on its products, from C60 oils and gummies to skincare and C60 for pets. The code CELEBRATE20 is valid until October 9, 2026, only at ShopC60.com. Those ready to try C60 after the holiday can visit ShopC60.com and use code NATIONAL10 for 10 percent off a first order. C60 Power, originally founded in 2016 as C60 Purple Power, manufactures health and wellness products containing Carbon 60, all made with 99.99 percent pure, sublimated C60 and certified organic carrier oils. All products are third-party tested for safety, quality, purity, and bioavailability. The company’s products are available at ShopC60.com, TrulyFree.com, Amazon.com, through many healthcare providers, and at select health and wellness retailers across the United States.
