In highschool I was lucky enough to join a program run by the CSIRO (Australia's Government funded scientific research body), where students would assist scientists on experiments they were conducting.

I was tasked with measuring the water resistance of a proposed environmentally friendly paper coating.

I asked my supervising scientist what numbers I should expect to get back from the experiment. I distinctly remember my surprise and thrill when he looked at me and said "I have no idea, that's why you're running the experiment".

It was such a new concept to me! A scientific experiment where the correct answer wasn't written in a teacher's lesson guide, or even known to anyone!