Keen observation and asking 'why' or 'how' questions are absolutely crucial in scientific discovery because they are the starting points for all scientific inquiry.

1. Observation: Careful observation helps us notice patterns, anomalies, or phenomena that might otherwise go unnoticed. Newton's observation of a falling apple was common, but his keen eye saw it as something to question, not just a routine event. Without observing, we wouldn't even know what needs explaining.
2. Inquiry (Asking 'why'/'how'): Once something is observed, asking 'why does this happen?' or 'how does this work?' drives the scientific process forward. These questions transform a simple observation into a problem to be solved. They lead to forming hypotheses, designing experiments, and ultimately, to new knowledge and discoveries. Without curiosity and the desire to understand, observations remain isolated facts rather than stepping stones to scientific breakthroughs.