The research environment that led eventually to the discovery of RANK ligand was one in which basic, curiosity-driven, ‘blue sky’ investigation was considered valuable. A large proportion of discoveries in biomedical research, and also research in general, have historically been made by curious, observant, bright, plugged in (keeping abreast of current knowledge) people and these discoveries have often been serendipitous. When we look at the line-up of researchers, whose work enabled the identification of RANK ligand as a molecule central to the formation and activation of osteoclasts (among other actions), we see these characteristics writ large. In this talk, I will seek to honour at least some of those contributors to the RANKL story, in a short, fast and furious history of this fascinating molecule. I will list some of the ways in which the identification of RANKL has impacted bone physiology and pathology, and also try to fit in some updates on RANKL biology. Lastly, I will advocate, and attempt to recruit the audience as advocates, for the support of basic science, and in particular basic science as it relates to the human skeleton.