circusfolk
It's a word that is torturous. To be near to something implies that you are close to that something, but not quite close enough to be right there. I think of this in terms of both people and places. You can be near a destination, but not quite there yet. You can be near someone's heart, but you aren't in their heart.
The first thing that came to mind was the television channel, which I find rather upsetting considering that human beings have reached new heights both physically and mentally through this word. Discovery can mean so many different things, but no matter how small the thing you are finding, it still feels as though you are accomplishing something profound.