Due to the nature of science, this page can be out of date or lacking information. This page will be updated as soon as we can. We thank you for your patience crewmate!
Welcome to the Science department!
One second you might be excitedly stumbling onto a money printing artifact. The next moment that same artifact turns science department into a crater. This department is all about throwing caution to the wind all while you scream "In the name of science!!"
Science, also called Research and Development, R&D, or RnD, is a large department that revolves around the acquisition and use of research points to gain new technologies for the station. The department is composed of three subdepartments—Anomalous Research, Xenoarcheology, and Robotics—and it's staffed by the Research Director, scientists, and research assistants, with cyborgs being manufactured by the department.
Anomalous Research is a subdepartment of R&D focused around the containment and manipulation of various unique anomalies.
One of R&D's main ways to harvest research points, and the leading cause of headaches in captains of non-coordinated stations. These anomalies can be extremely dangerous to the station if left alone so be careful!
Xenoarcheology
Xenoarcheology is the other main methodology for producing research points.
This methodology for harvesting is simultaneously safer for the station and more dangerous for science personnel. This section of science involves a lot of trial and error to figure out to activate alien artifacts. These artifacts can be really mild or really dangerous depending on their depth.
Robotics
Robotics is the synthetic lifeblood of the station.
Robotics is a department that strives to create as many synthetic lives as they can to help the station and it's crew. Roboticists can make small and helpful bots, such as medibots. They may also focus on more expensive creations like cyborgs and mechs like the Ripley.
Staff
Research Director
The Research Director (often shortened to RD) is in charge of the Science department and oversees the duties of Research and Development.
While they will ideally have Scientists under them to aid in research, they are expected to have at least a fundamental understanding of how to operate their department. The Research Director will be focusing on teaching any staff that needs assistance. The Research Director is also expected to lead the team through a path of research through the Research Tree. The Research Director might also have to pick up any role that is missing so that the department remains functional.
Scientist
Scientists follow guidance, direction, and tasks assigned by the Research Director.
Scientists are usually tasked with providing research points by researching artifacts or studying anomalies. Scientists may also be tasked with building and providing various high tech tools, weapons, equipment, and machines to the other various departments. It's important as a scientist to be kind to your colleagues, provide gifts for others, and throw caution to the wind in the name of science!!
Research Assistant
Research assistants follow guidance, direction, and tasks assigned by the Research Director and Scientists.
Research assistants are usually tasked with providing research points by researching artifacts or studying anomalies. Feel free to ask someone higher up if you get confused on what to do or how to do something. Study, learn, and watch your teacher blow up the science department while trying to teach you artifacts!
Cyborg
Brought to life by the power of research and technology sits the silicon life of the Cyborg.
The cyborg is bound by silicon laws that restrict how they can interact with others. With a default "crewsimov" set of laws the cyborg will be out to help the crew in any way they are asked to. Cyborgs typically will report to science to assist research and in turn gain the benefit of new chasis and modules that will aid their goals.
Researching technologies
Research points are used to unlock new technologies and can be acquired through a few different sources, the most profitable being Xenoarcheology, which is the process of analyzing and activating different randomly generated artifacts that can be found via events, salvage debris, and by ordering them from cargo. Most artifacts have more than one Stimulus-Reaction combination (known scientifically as Nodes), so make sure to scan and activate as many of them as you can before selling it to cargo, or keeping it around because its effects are cool enough to warrant keeping.
Another highly valuable source of research points is Anomalous Research. Most R&D departments come equipped with an Anomaly Generator, Anomalous Particle Emitters (A.P.E.), and Anomaly Vessels, which are used to spawn, interact with, and generate points from anomalies respectively. Anomalies can come in different forms, ranging from raging balls of pink-hot matter to electrically-discharging motes of light to radioactive gravity wells, so make sure to wear some protective gear while studying them.
Points can also be acquired through research disks, which can be found in maintenance, expeditions, or salvaged from space.
The user interface of the R&D Console
New technologies can be researched in the R&D Console by using previously generated points. When opening the console, it will display the department's current amount of research points, Main Discipline, and tiers for each discipline. On the right side of the console's window is a list of four different technologies, one for each discipline. This list is randomized each time the department researches a new technology, taking from the Researchable Technologies list on the left side. Technologies that have already been researched are listed in the Unlocked Technologies section.
The four disciplines into which technologies are categorized are Industrial, Arsenal, Experimental, and Civilian Services, with the first three being aimed towards the Engineering, Security, and Science departments respectively, while Civilian Services mainly covers Service, with a handful of technologies aimed at Medical and Cargo.
Technologies are ranked into three tiers, with tier 1 being lower than tier 2 and this, in turn, being lower than tier 3. Generally, higher tier technologies unlock stronger and better equipment than lower tiers. To research higher tier technologies, the department must increase the tier of the respective discipline, done by researching the majority of technologies available in the prior tier. For example, researching the majority of tier 1 Industrial technologies will allow scientists to the research tier 2 Industrial technologies, but not tier 2 Arsenal, Experimental, or Civilian Services technologies.
Assuming they have enough points, the Science department can research all tier 1 and tier 2 technologies but, generally, they must choose a single discipline to increase to tier 3, as researching tier 3 technologies for one discipline will lock out tier 3 technologies for the other three disciplines. This tier 3 discipline becomes their Main Discipline. It is possible to get tier 3 technologies from other disciplines, either through gambling with the Technology Disk Terminal or by acquiring multiple RD servers, as the Main Discipline is only a per-server limit.
All the progress made by the Science department, including points and technologies, is stored in the RD server; if the department loses its server, all unlocked technologies will be lost and all connected fabricators will lose the ability to craft items associated with these technologies.
There is another method to research a technology, and that is using the Technology Disk Terminal. If there is no such console immediately available within the station, it can be created after researching the Tier 1 Experimental technology Alternative Research.
By spending 1000 research points, a technology disk is dispensed, containing the recipe of any single random item of any tier for the lathes to fabricate. The item ranges from a redundant item that has already been researched to highly sought-after and expensive items.
When used early into the round, it may reward the department with end-tier items immediately at the cost of the primary research progress. This is essentially gambling with research points, so ensure that your department agrees with this plan. When used late into the round, it may grant recipes from technologies that have been locked out in favor of the Main Discipline.
The following section will only cover recipes unlocked through research.
Protolathe
The Protolathe is a machine capable of printing most researched recipes. Protolathes are mainly found at science but can sometimes be found in Engineering or on salvage expeditions.
Industrial
Item
Crafting Cost
Research
Tier
Research Cost
High-capacity power cell
steel [3]plastic [2]glass [4]gold bar [0.5]
Advanced Powercells
1
7,500
Mining drill
steel [5]plastic [1]
Salvage Equipment
1
7,500
Welding gas mask
steel [6]glass [2]
Experimental welding tool
steel [8]plastic [0.5]plasma [2]
Advanced Tools
2
10,000
Power drill
steel [6]plastic [2]
Jaws of life
glass [5]plastic [0.5]plasma [3]gold bar [0.5]steel [10]
Ore bag of holding
steel [20]silver bar [7.5]uranium [1.5]plasma [15]
Mass Excavation
2
12,500
Diamond tipped mining drill
steel [6]silver bar [2]plastic [2]refined diamond [1]
Handheld mass scanner
steel [8]plastic [0.5]glass [3]
Space Scanning
2
7,500
Holofan projector
steel [3]plastic [0.5]glass [0.5]
Advanced Atmospherics
2
7,500
Bag of holding
steel [20]silver bar [7.5]uranium [1.5]plasma [15]
Bluespace Storage
3
15,000
Satchel of holding
steel [20]silver bar [7.5]uranium [1.5]plasma [15]
Duffelbag of holding
steel [20]silver bar [7.5]uranium [1.5]plasma [15]
recipe for item 'Svalinn laser pistol' with method 'Protolathe' not found
Experimental Battery Ammo
3
15,000
Experimental
Item
Crafting Cost
Research
Tier
Research Cost
Node scanner
steel [1]plastic [0.5]
Basic XenoArcheology
1
5,000
G.O.R.I.L.L.A. gauntlet
glass [5]plastic [3]plasma [5]silver bar [2.5]steel [15]
Anomaly Core Harnessing
1
10,000
Anomaly locator
steel [4]glass [1]
Basic Anomalous Research
1
5,000
Wide-spectrum anomaly locator
steel [4]glass [1]
Magboots
steel [10]plastic [5]
Local Magnetism
1
7,500
Moon boots
steel [6]
Portable particle decelerator
steel [7.5]uranium [1.5]plastic [0.5]plasma [1.5]
Deterrence Technologies
2
7,500
Force field projector
steel [5]glass [1]plastic [0.5]plasma [3]
C.H.I.M.P. handcannon
steel [5]glass [4]
Advanced Anomaly Research
2
10,000
Quantum spin inverter
steel [7]glass [1]uranium [1]
Quantum Leaping
3
10,000
Tether gun
steel [5]glass [4]silver bar [1]
Gravity Manipulation
3
10,000
Force gun
steel [5]glass [4]silver bar [2]
Civilian Services
Item
Crafting Cost
Research
Tier
Research Cost
Synthesizer
steel [3]plastic [3]glass [1]
Advanced Entertainment
1
7,500
Advanced mop
steel [1]plastic [4]glass [1]
Advanced Cleaning
2
10,000
Mega spray bottle
plastic [2.5]
Spray nozzle
steel [15]glass [5]
Advanced Spray
2
10,000
Backpack water tank
steel [2.5]glass [10]
Astro-grass
plastic [1]
Faux Astro-Tiles
2
5,000
Mowed astro-grass
plastic [1]
Jungle astro-grass
plastic [1]
Astro-ice
plastic [1]
Astro-snow
plastic [1]
Cryostasis beaker
steel [2.5]plastic [0.5]
Biochemical Stasis
2
7,500
Cryostasis syringe
steel [2]plastic [0.5]
Speed boots
steel [15]plastic [10]silver bar [5]
Quantum Fiber Weaving
3
10,000
Bluespace beaker
steel [5]silver bar [0.5]plastic [5]plasma [1.5]
Bluespace Chemistry
3
10,000
Bluespace syringe
glass [2.5]plastic [1.5]plasma [1]silver bar [0.5]steel [1]
Circuit Imprinter
The Circuit Imprinter is a machine capable of printing machine boards used for creating machines and computers. They require steel, glass, plastic, and gold.
Machine boards can be inserted into a machine frame whilst electronics can be inserted into computers or other machines built with Construction.
recipe for item 'Power monitoring computer board' with method 'CircuitImprinter' not found
Solar control computer board
steel [1]plastic [3]glass [5]
Emitter machine board
steel [1]plastic [3]glass [5]
Solar tracker electronics
steel [1]plastic [3]glass [5]
Hyper convection circuit imprinter machine board
steel [1]glass [5]plastic [3]gold bar [1]
Industrial Engineering
1
10,000
Hyper convection autolathe machine board
steel [1]glass [5]plastic [3]gold bar [1]
Hyper convection protolathe machine board
steel [1]glass [5]plastic [3]gold bar [1]
Sheet-meister 2000 machine board
steel [1]plastic [3]glass [5]
Flatpacker 1001 machine board
steel [1]glass [5]plastic [3]gold bar [1]
Mechanical Compression
1
10,000
Industrial ore processor machine board
steel [1]glass [5]plastic [3]gold bar [1]
Salvage Equipment
1
7,500
Freezer thermomachine machine board
steel [1]glass [5]plastic [3]gold bar [1]
Atmospherics
1
7,500
Gas recycler board
steel [1]plastic [3]glass [5]
Turbo recharger machine board
steel [1]glass [5]plastic [3]gold bar [1]
Advanced Power Cells
1
7,500
Shuttle console board
steel [1]glass [5]plastic [3]gold bar [1]
Shuttlecraft
2
10,000
Mini gravity generator machine board
steel [1]glass [5]plastic [3]gold bar [1]
Thruster machine board
steel [1]plastic [3]glass [5]
Gyroscope machine board
steel [1]plastic [3]glass [5]
Radar console computer board
steel [1]plastic [3]glass [5]
Space Scanning
2
7,500
Hellfire freezer machine board
steel [1]silver bar [1]plastic [3]glass [5]
Advanced Atmospherics
2
7,500
Portable scrubber machine board
steel [1]plastic [3]glass [5]
Arsenal
Item
Crafting Cost
Research
Tier
Research Cost
PTK-800 "Matter Dematerializer"
steel [1]plastic [3]glass [5]
Salvage Weapons
1
5,000
Experimental
Item
Crafting Cost
Research
Tier
Research Cost
Analysis computer board
steel [1]glass [5]plastic [3]gold bar [1]
Basic XenoArcheology
1
5,000
Artifact analyzer machine board
steel [1]glass [5]plastic [3]gold bar [1]
A.P.E. machine board
steel [1]plastic [3]glass [5]
Basic Anomalous Research
1
5,000
Anomaly vessel machine board
steel [1]plastic [3]glass [5]
Exosuit fabricator machine board
steel [1]plastic [3]glass [5]
Basic Robotics
1
5,000
Tech disk terminal board
steel [1]glass [5]plastic [3]gold bar [1]
Alternative Research
1
5,000
Artifact crusher machine board
steel [1]glass [5]plastic [3]gold bar [1]
Artifact Recycling
2
5,000
Anomaly synchronizer machine board
steel [1]silver bar [1]plastic [3]glass [5]
Advanced Anomaly Research
2
10,000
Experimental anomaly vessel machine board
steel [1]glass [5]plastic [3]gold bar [1]
Civilian Services
Item
Crafting Cost
Research
Tier
Research Cost
Seed extractor machine board
steel [1]plastic [3]glass [5]
Basic Hydroponics
1
5,000
Hydroponics tray machine board
steel [1]plastic [3]glass [5]
Industrial reagent grinder machine board
steel [1]glass [5]plastic [3]gold bar [1]
Lipid extractor machine board
steel [1]plastic [3]glass [5]
Meat Manipulation
1
7,500
Biocube fabricator machine board
steel [1]glass [5]plastic [3]gold bar [1]
Biomass reclaimer machine board
steel [1]glass [5]plastic [3]gold bar [1]
HAMTR central control module
steel [1]glass [5]plastic [3]gold bar [1]
Critter Mechs
1
7,500
HAMTR peripherals control module
steel [1]glass [5]plastic [3]gold bar [1]
Television board
steel [1]plastic [3]glass [5]
Advanced Entertainment
1
7,500
Digital audio workstation machine board
steel [1]plastic [3]glass [5]
News manager console board
steel [1]plastic [3]glass [5]
Jukebox machine board
steel [1]plastic [3]glass [5]
Surveillance camera router board
steel [1]plastic [3]glass [5]
A/V Communication
1
5,000
Surveillance camera wireless router board
steel [1]plastic [3]glass [5]
Movable wireless camera board
steel [1]plastic [3]glass [5]
Wireless camera board
steel [1]plastic [3]glass [5]
Surveillance camera monitor board
steel [1]plastic [3]glass [5]
Surveillance wireless camera monitor board
steel [1]plastic [3]glass [5]
Telecommunication server machine board
steel [1]plastic [3]glass [5]
H.O.N.K. central control module
steel [1]bananium [1]plastic [3]glass [5]
H.O.N.K. Mech
2
7,500
H.O.N.K. peripherals control module
steel [1]bananium [1]plastic [3]glass [5]
H.O.N.K. weapon control and targeting module
steel [1]bananium [1]plastic [3]glass [5]
Cargo telepad machine board
steel [1]glass [5]plastic [3]gold bar [1]
Bluespace Cargo Transport
2
15,000
Stasis bed machine board
steel [1]glass [5]plastic [3]gold bar [1]
Biochemical Stasis
2
7,500
Cryo pod machine board
steel [1]glass [5]plastic [3]gold bar [1]
Exosuit Fabricator
The Exosuit Fabricator is a machine that is capable of crafting a large variety of Cyborg and Mech parts. The Exosuit Fabricator is a material hungry machine and can use gold, silver, steel, plastic, glass, and plasma. The Exosuit Fabricator is a vital part of Cyborg creation and many of the advanced pieces are locked behind research.
Industrial
Item
Crafting Cost
Research
Tier
Research Cost
Ripley harness
steel [15]glass [12]
Ripley APLU
1
7,500
Ripley left arm
steel [10]glass [7.5]
Ripley right arm
steel [10]glass [7.5]
Ripley left leg
steel [10]glass [7.5]
Ripley right leg
steel [10]glass [7.5]
Hydraulic clamp
steel [5]plastic [2]
Mining cyborg module
recipe for item 'mining cyborg module' with method 'ExosuitFabricator' not found
Salvage Equipment
1
7,500
unknown item 'grappling gun cyborg module'
recipe for item 'grappling gun cyborg module' not found - item does not exist
unknown item 'GPS cyborg module'
recipe for item 'GPS cyborg module' not found - item does not exist
Space Scanning
2
7,500
Advanced tool cyborg module
steel [5]plastic [2.5]glass [5]gold bar [0.5]
Advanced Tools
2
10,000
unknown item 'RCD cyborg module'
recipe for item 'RCD cyborg module' not found - item does not exist
Experimental
Item
Crafting Cost
Research
Tier
Research Cost
Anomaly cyborg module
recipe for item 'anomaly cyborg module' with method 'ExosuitFabricator' not found
Basic Anomalous Research
1
5,000
Artifact cyborg module
recipe for item 'artifact cyborg module' with method 'ExosuitFabricator' not found
Basic XenoArcheology
1
5,000
Proximity sensor
steel [2]glass [3]
Basic Robotics
1
5,000
Civilian Services
Item
Crafting Cost
Research
Tier
Research Cost
Gardening cyborg module
recipe for item 'gardening cyborg module' with method 'ExosuitFabricator' not found
Basic Hydroponics
1
5,000
Harvesting cyborg module
recipe for item 'harvesting cyborg module' with method 'ExosuitFabricator' not found
unknown item 'light replacer cyborg module'
recipe for item 'light replacer cyborg module' not found - item does not exist
Robotic Cleanliness
1
5,000
Advanced cleaning cyborg module
steel [5]plastic [2.5]glass [5]gold bar [0.5]
Advanced Entertainment
1
7,500
Musique cyborg module
recipe for item 'musique cyborg module' with method 'ExosuitFabricator' not found
clowning cyborg module
recipe for item 'clowning cyborg module' with method 'ExosuitFabricator' not found
HAMTR harness
steel [12]glass [10]
Critter Mechs
1
7,500
HAMTR left arm
steel [8]glass [6]
HAMTR right arm
steel [8]glass [6]
HAMTR left leg
steel [8]glass [6]
HAMTR right leg
steel [8]glass [6]
Small hydraulic clamp
steel [4]plastic [1]
Vim harness
steel [5]glass [2]
unknown item 'advanced treatment cyborg module'
recipe for item 'advanced treatment cyborg module' not found - item does not exist
Mechanized Treatment
2
5,000
unknown item 'defibrillator cyborg module'
recipe for item 'defibrillator cyborg module' not found - item does not exist
H.O.N.K. harness
steel [30]glass [12]bananium [5]
H.O.N.K. Mech
2
7,500
H.O.N.K. left arm
steel [20]glass [7.5]bananium [2.5]
H.O.N.K. right arm
steel [20]glass [7.5]bananium [2.5]
H.O.N.K. right armX
steel [20]glass [7.5]bananium [2.5]
H.O.N.K. right leg
steel [20]glass [7.5]bananium [2.5]
Mech horn
steel [5]bananium [2]
Security Techfab
Set deep within the security department sits the Security Techfab. The Security Techfab can use steel, plastic, glass, silver, gold, uranium, and plasma. Providing the Security Techfab with materials will allow crew members to produce ammo, grenades, and weapons. Given some research, this machine can fill the armory with some of the most dangerous weapons you can get a hold of.
Anchored into the back of medical sits the Medical Techfab. It can use steel, plastic, glass, cloth, plasma, and silver. A small amount of highly valuable items are acquired through the Medical Techfab.
Arsenal
Item
Crafting Cost
Research
Tier
Research Cost
Chemical payload
steel [2]plastic [3]
Explosive Technology
1
10,000
Civilian Services
Item
Crafting Cost
Research
Tier
Research Cost
Cryostasis beaker
steel [2.5]plastic [0.5]
Biochemical Stasis
2
7,500
Cryostasis syringe
steel [2]plastic [0.5]
Bluespace beaker
steel [5]silver bar [0.5]plastic [5]plasma [1.5]
Bluespace Chemistry
3
10,000
Bluespace syringe
glass [2.5]plastic [1.5]plasma [1]silver bar [0.5]steel [1]
Hyper Convection Machines
Hyper convection machine are a highly valuable upgrade that is obtained from the Industrial Engineering research node. Hyper convection machines will craft items at a 50% discount from the original cost. The trade-off when it comes to these powerful machines is that they produce an immense amount of heat. The heat that is produced from these machines can quickly become lethal if sufficient preparations are not made. One of the ways to make a safe enclosure for hyper convection machines is:
Un-wrench the machines and move the protolathe, autolathe, and circuit imprinter to the back wall. If there is a R&D computer, move it out of the way.
Build a 2x3 box of directional reinforced windows. At the middle-right side of the box create a windoor.
Create an air alarm and a air sensor. Place the air sensor within the box at the center right, and the air alarm nearby for convenience.
Create one (required) or two (optional) space heater(s) at the top-right and bottom-right of the box.4a. Set the space heaters to have High energy consumption and make sure that they are On.
Either hack the air alarm or ask an engineer to help you with networking. To hack the air alarm we must first use a screwdriver on it to open the panel. When the panel is open use a wirecutter tool on the air alarm itself. The lights above refer to the wires below. The wire that we are looking to cut is the ACC wire. The ACC wire is what controls who is authorized to network and control the Air Alarm.5a. Cut the wires from left to right (by clicking on them with a wirecutter in hand) until you get the ACC light to turn off. You may get unlucky like I did and hit a power wire before the ACC wire, you will get shocked because of this. Skip the power wire and continue until you reach the ACC wire. Once you have found the ACC wire repair all other wires (by clicking on them with a wirecutter in hand) and leave the ACC wire cut. Close the panel on the air alarm with the screwdriver.
Use a multitool or a network configurator and click on the air sensor first, followed by the air alarm.6a. Click Add on the air alarm GUI and then close the GUI.
In a similar process, use a multitool or a network configurator and click on the windoor first, followed by the air alarm. 7a. Click the Danger button and then click Close. Click on the Warning button and click Close. Finally, click the Normal button and then click Open. Then click the Done button.
Create the hyper convection circuit imprinter machine board at the Circuit Imprinter. Create or gather 1 matter bin and 1 igniter. Use a screwdriver to open the panel on the Circuit Imprinter.8a. Use a crowbar to deconstruct the imprinter into a machine frame.8b. Use a crowbar again to remove the parts from the machine frame.8c. Remove the Circuit Imprinter machine board from the stack of items. Click on the machine frame while holding the hyper convection Circuit Imprinter machine board. Shift click the machine frame and fill it with the rest of the materials that it requires. (You should have all the materials if the previous steps were followed).8d. Screwdriver the machine frame to finish the construction. (If this does not work you are missing materials).
Repeat step 8 through 8d with the Protolathe and Autolathe machines.
Congratulations! You have built a hyper convection machines and a safe setup! Good work fellow scientist!