If you only want to research it once and have control over researches you could also add server commands.
Second thing I think it would be fun if you not only have to get certain event but also build and interact with the world stuff in order to discover something.
Like you can drop gravel on rubber wood and you discover sticky resin (ok thats weird)
Or if you drop iron into fire to get refiened iron. or waer rubber boots while jumping around on unisolated wires