research-lookup

What this skill does

# Research Information Lookup

## Overview

This skill enables real-time research information lookup using Perplexity's Sonar models through OpenRouter. It intelligently selects between **Sonar Pro Search** (fast, efficient lookup) and **Sonar Reasoning Pro** (deep analytical reasoning) based on query complexity. The skill provides access to current academic literature, recent studies, technical documentation, and general research information with proper citations and source attribution.

## When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when you need:

- **Current Research Information**: Latest studies, papers, and findings in a specific field
- **Literature Verification**: Check facts, statistics, or claims against current research
- **Background Research**: Gather context and supporting evidence for scientific writing
- **Citation Sources**: Find relevant papers and studies to cite in manuscripts
- **Technical Documentation**: Look up specifications, protocols, or methodologies
- **Recent Developments**: Stay current with emerging trends and breakthroughs
- **Statistical Data**: Find recent statistics, survey results, or research findings
- **Expert Opinions**: Access insights from recent interviews, reviews, or commentary

## Visual Enhancement with Scientific Schematics

**When creating documents with this skill, always consider adding scientific diagrams and schematics to enhance visual communication.**

If your document does not already contain schematics or diagrams:
- Use the **scientific-schematics** skill to generate AI-powered publication-quality diagrams
- Simply describe your desired diagram in natural language
- Nano Banana Pro will automatically generate, review, and refine the schematic

**For new documents:** Scientific schematics should be generated by default to visually represent key concepts, workflows, architectures, or relationships described in the text.

**How to generate schematics:**
```bash
python scripts/generate_schematic.py "your diagram description" -o figures/output.png
```

The AI will automatically:
- Create publication-quality images with proper formatting
- Review and refine through multiple iterations
- Ensure accessibility (colorblind-friendly, high contrast)
- Save outputs in the figures/ directory

**When to add schematics:**
- Research information flow diagrams
- Query processing workflow illustrations
- Model selection decision trees
- System integration architecture diagrams
- Information retrieval pipeline visualizations
- Knowledge synthesis frameworks
- Any complex concept that benefits from visualization

For detailed guidance on creating schematics, refer to the scientific-schematics skill documentation.

---

## Core Capabilities

### 1. Academic Research Queries

**Search Academic Literature**: Query for recent papers, studies, and reviews in specific domains:

```
Query Examples:
- "Recent advances in CRISPR gene editing 2024"
- "Latest clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease treatment"
- "Machine learning applications in drug discovery systematic review"
- "Climate change impacts on biodiversity meta-analysis"
```

**Expected Response Format**:
- Summary of key findings from recent literature
- Citation of 3-5 most relevant papers with authors, titles, journals, and years
- Key statistics or findings highlighted
- Identification of research gaps or controversies
- Links to full papers when available

### 2. Technical and Methodological Information

**Protocol and Method Lookups**: Find detailed procedures, specifications, and methodologies:

```
Query Examples:
- "Western blot protocol for protein detection"
- "RNA sequencing library preparation methods"
- "Statistical power analysis for clinical trials"
- "Machine learning model evaluation metrics"
```

**Expected Response Format**:
- Step-by-step procedures or protocols
- Required materials and equipment
- Critical parameters and considerations
- Troubleshooting common issues
- References to standard protocols or seminal papers

### 3. Statistical and Data Information

**Research Statistics**: Look up current statistics, survey results, and research data:

```
Query Examples:
- "Prevalence of diabetes in US population 2024"
- "Global renewable energy adoption statistics"
- "COVID-19 vaccination rates by country"
- "AI adoption in healthcare industry survey"
```

**Expected Response Format**:
- Current statistics with dates and sources
- Methodology of data collection
- Confidence intervals or margins of error when available
- Comparison with previous years or benchmarks
- Citations to original surveys or studies

### 4. Citation and Reference Assistance

**Citation Finding**: Locate relevant papers and studies for citation in manuscripts:

```
Query Examples:
- "Foundational papers on transformer architecture"
- "Seminal works in quantum computing"
- "Key studies on climate change mitigation"
- "Landmark trials in cancer immunotherapy"
```

**Expected Response Format**:
- 5-10 most influential or relevant papers
- Complete citation information (authors, title, journal, year, DOI)
- Brief description of each paper's contribution
- Citation impact metrics when available (h-index, citation count)
- Journal impact factors and rankings

## Automatic Model Selection

This skill features **intelligent model selection** based on query complexity:

### Model Types

**1. Sonar Pro Search** (`perplexity/sonar-pro-search`)
- **Use Case**: Straightforward information lookup
- **Best For**: 
  - Simple fact-finding queries
  - Recent publication searches
  - Basic protocol lookups
  - Statistical data retrieval
- **Speed**: Fast responses
- **Cost**: Lower cost per query

**2. Sonar Reasoning Pro** (`perplexity/sonar-reasoning-pro`)
- **Use Case**: Complex analytical queries requiring deep reasoning
- **Best For**:
  - Comparative analysis ("compare X vs Y")
  - Synthesis of multiple studies
  - Evaluating trade-offs or controversies
  - Explaining mechanisms or relationships
  - Critical analysis and interpretation
- **Speed**: Slower but more thorough
- **Cost**: Higher cost per query, but provides deeper insights

### Complexity Assessment

The skill automatically detects query complexity using these indicators:

**Reasoning Keywords** (triggers Sonar Reasoning Pro):
- Analytical: `compare`, `contrast`, `analyze`, `analysis`, `evaluate`, `critique`
- Comparative: `versus`, `vs`, `vs.`, `compared to`, `differences between`, `similarities`
- Synthesis: `meta-analysis`, `systematic review`, `synthesis`, `integrate`
- Causal: `mechanism`, `why`, `how does`, `how do`, `explain`, `relationship`, `causal relationship`, `underlying mechanism`
- Theoretical: `theoretical framework`, `implications`, `interpret`, `reasoning`
- Debate: `controversy`, `conflicting`, `paradox`, `debate`, `reconcile`
- Trade-offs: `pros and cons`, `advantages and disadvantages`, `trade-off`, `tradeoff`, `trade offs`
- Complexity: `multifaceted`, `complex interaction`, `critical analysis`

**Complexity Scoring**:
- Reasoning keywords: 3 points each (heavily weighted)
- Multiple questions: 2 points per question mark
- Complex sentence structures: 1.5 points per clause indicator (and, or, but, however, whereas, although)
- Very long queries: 1 point if >150 characters
- **Threshold**: Queries scoring ≥3 points trigger Sonar Reasoning Pro

**Practical Result**: Even a single strong reasoning keyword (compare, explain, analyze, etc.) will trigger the more powerful Sonar Reasoning Pro model, ensuring you get deep analysis when needed.

**Example Query Classification**:

✅ **Sonar Pro Search** (straightforward lookup):
- "Recent advances in CRISPR gene editing 2024"
- "Prevalence of diabetes in US population"
- "Western blot protocol for protein detection"

✅ **Sonar Reasoning Pro** (complex analysis):
- "Compare and contrast mRNA vaccines vs traditional vaccines for cancer treatment"
- "Explain the mechanism underlying the relationship between gut microbiome and depression"
- "Analyze the controver