Final answer:
Brian's statement is about the idea that discoveries are often products of necessity or serendipity, reflecting the anthropic principle that the universe's conditions must allow for our existence, as we are here to observe them.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Brian mentions that discoveries happened because they needed to happen, he's referring to the idea that certain events or scientific breakthroughs occur as a response to specific needs or circumstances that make them inevitable. This concept is mirrored in the anthropic principle, which suggests the conditions of our universe are uniquely suited for life because otherwise, we wouldn't be here to observe these conditions. Moreover, while many scientific discoveries are the result of planned research, there's also a significant element of serendipity - discovering something valuable unexpectedly - that plays a crucial role in scientific advancement.