Research
Research is the main way to progress in this game, using research you can unlock new recipes for your many facilities. It allows for many things, such as researching new ways to use unknown resources, new equipment for better survival, and upgrades to old equipment.
How to Research
All research requires you to have 2 things: a Research Table and a Colonist. You cannot research things on your own and cannot research without the right facilities. Every research topic requires Research Points (RP) to finish, the amount of RP required depends on the research topic.
All colonists can do research, however the Scientist NPCs research things 3 times as fast. Instead of generating 1 RP per tick, they do 3. As well, the more colonists you have working on multiple Research Tables, the faster research goes.
Requirements
These research topics occasionally require 2 things to be accessed: an item requirement and an insight requirement. Item requirements basically mean you must've picked up said item to work with. Insight requirements are when you need to complete other research topics to gain access to it.
Research Topics
Research topics are split into 2 types: mysteries and research. Mysteries are topics that require you to find an item and research its use, these are usually shorter and are only used to unlock other research topics. Research is the main topic, these take a lot longer and are generally used to unlock new recipes.
| Name | Description | RP Required | Item Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruby | A sparkling, seductive red gem. Bring to a research bench. | 100 | Ruby |
| Diamond | A hard white gem sparkling brilliantly. Men have died for things like these. Bring to a research bench. | 100 | Diamond |
| Emerald | A bright, shimmering green gem. Its shade is a perfect emerald color. Bring to a research bench. | 100 | Emerald |
| Sapphire | A mysterious blue gem, as deep as the ocean itself. Bring to a research bench. | 100 | Sapphire |
| Meme Crystals | Colorful crystals. They look tasty!. Bring to a research bench. | 300000 | Quasi Crystal |
| Acid Crystal | A strange crystal with an acrid odor. It feels dangerous. Take to a research bench. | 1200 | Acid Crystal |
| Plant Fibers | Local plant fibers could have uses. Bring this to a Research Bench. | 3000 | Plant Fibers |
| Plasteel Ore | A strange hard yet flexible ore. Bring this to a Research Bench. | 7000 | Plasteel Ore |
| Shale | Rocks that contain hydrocarbons. Bring this to a Research Bench. | 8000 | Shale Chunk |
| Tar | Sludge that contains hydrocarbons. Bring this to a Research Bench. | 16000 | Tar |
| Sulfur | A core component in creating acids and soil amendments. Bring this to a Research Bench. | 5600 | Sulfur |
| Feathers | Animal feathers. May prove useful for clothing. | 5000 | Feathers |
| Forestry | Seeds from basic trees. Research to learn how to care for basic forests. | 12000 | Seeds from Planet 1 |
| Forestry: Desert | Animal feathers. May prove useful for clothing. | 0 | Seeds from Planet 2 |
| Silicon | A reflective, dark rock with a metallic sheen. | 70000 | Silicon |
| Data Drive | A mysterious data drive. | 70000 | Data Drive |
| Superconductor | A component being able to conduct a high amount of energy. | 70000 | Superconductor |
| FTL Cooling | A cooling system designed for FTL. | 120000 | FTL Cooling System |
| FTL Core | A reflective, dark rock with a metallic sheen. | 120000 | FTL Core |
| FTL Navigation System | A navigation system required for FTL. | 120000 | FTL Navigation System |
| FTL Thruster | A reflective, dark rock with a metallic sheen. | 120000 | FTL Thruster |
| Name | Description | RP Required | Insight Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chainsaw | Rotating makes the trees go down. | 500 | None |
| Mining Drill | A drill for mining. Much faster than a pickaxe. A bit jittery though. | 12000 | None |
| Advanced Gunsmithing | Making slightly better ballistics | 3000 | None |
| Medicine | The basic knowledge of medicine to help you and your colonists survive any nasty wounds. | 5000 | Plant Fibers |
| Batteries | The creation of various batteries. | 6000 | Acid Crystal |
| Laser Lenses | N/A | 1 | Ruby or Diamond or Emerald or Sapphire |
| Laser Technology | Weapons made from high-energy lasers. Applications in shooting eyes out. | 50000 | Laser Lenses |
| Laser Pistol | A compact laser with a powerful, miniaturized battery cartridge. | 14000 | Laser Technology |
| Laser Rifle | Long-ranged laser with superb accuracy. | 18000 | Laser Technology |
| Laser Heavy Weapons | What's better than a laser? A gatling laser. | 40000 | Laser Rifle |
| Laser Miner | N/A | 8000 | Mining Drill, Laser Technology |
| Plasteel Refining | N/A | 1 | Plasteel Ore |
| Spaceflight | The knowledge of basic spacefaring. You want to get back out into the black, right? | 20000 | Plasteel Refining |
| Combat Pistol | N/A | 8000 | Advanced Gunsmithing |
| Battle Rifle | N/A | 12000 | Advanced Gunsmithing |
| Demolitions | N/A | 12000 | Advanced Gunsmithing |
| Heavy Ordnance | N/A | 12000 | Demolitions |
| Automated Turret | How to build automatic gun turrets. These should keep anyone - or anything - at bay. | 12000 | Heavy Ordnance |
| Shale Refining | Rocks that contain hydrocarbons. Bring this to a Research Bench. | 8000 | Shale |
| Flamethrower | Napalm adventure. | 50000 | Shale Refining |
| Polar Gear | Keeps you warm even in the harshest winter | 22000 | Clothing Manufacture |
| Circuit Boards | A core part of computer assembly. | 42000 | Plastic |