Kinetic energy wasn't "discovered" in the same way that a new element or planet is discovered. It's a fundamental concept in physics that developed over time with contributions from various scientists and mathematicians.

Here's a simplified timeline:

* Ancient Greeks: Philosophers like Aristotle had an intuitive understanding of motion and its relation to force.

* 17th Century:

* Galileo Galilei: Developed key concepts like inertia and acceleration, laying the groundwork for understanding motion.

* René Descartes: Introduced the concept of momentum, which is closely related to kinetic energy.

* Isaac Newton: Formulated the laws of motion, which established the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration.

* 18th Century:

* Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz: Developed the concept of "vis viva" (living force), which was essentially a precursor to the modern concept of kinetic energy. He realized that the amount of work needed to bring an object to a certain speed was proportional to the square of its speed.

* 19th Century:

* Gaspar-Gustave Coriolis: Formalized the term "kinetic energy" and its modern definition.

So, rather than being discovered in one specific place, kinetic energy emerged as a result of centuries of scientific inquiry and development.