Scientific Research
What does the quest Scientific Research give? The base scientist's blueprints across its 9 parts: the Large Refiner, the Autonomous Mining Unit and the Atmosphere Harvester, the Save Beacon, and the products the scientist teaches you to craft, from Acid and Lubricant to the Circuit Board.
How it starts
The quest opens once you have hired a scientist at the Science Terminal, which Expanding the Base gives.
The steps
Each part is one entry of the log, and the next opens when it ends. The table gives every step as the log names it, with the hint the game shows under it, and on a part's last step everything that part gives along the way.
| Part | Step | Hint | Gives |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Return to the Scientist | The Scientist awaits at their terminal | Acid, Lubricant |
| 2 | Return to the Scientist | The Scientist awaits at their terminal | |
| 2 | Gather Marrow Bulb and Cobalt | Marrow Bulb is harvested from underground plants, while Cobalt can be mined from rocks in or around caves. | Microprocessor, Large Refiner |
| 3 | Return to the Scientist | The Scientist awaits at their terminal | |
| 3 | Connect the Scientist's core to the Convergence | Visit a Transmission Tower to perform the operation. | |
| 4 | Return to the Scientist | The Scientist awaits at their terminal | |
| 4 | Gather data from an Observatory | Collect data from the terminal inside the building. | Save Beacon, Living Glass |
| 5 | Return to the Scientist | The Scientist awaits at their terminal | |
| 5 | Construct a Beacon | Use to access the Build Menu. Structural components can be built only within the bounds of a base. General technology parts maybe be constructed further afield. | Autonomous Mining Unit, Atmosphere Harvester |
| 6 | Return to the Scientist | The Scientist awaits at their terminal | |
| 6 | Scan planetary creatures | Use the Analysis Visor to scan and upload discoveries. | Unstable Gel |
| 7 | Return to the Scientist | The Scientist awaits at their terminal | |
| 7 | Gather Ion Batteries | Find Ion Batteries in containers, or craft them in your inventory from Ferrite Dust and Cobalt. | Poly Fibre |
| 8 | Wait for the Scientist to finish educating their Beacon | The process may take some time. Consider improving other base components while their teaching process completes. | |
| 8 | Return to the Scientist | The Scientist awaits at their terminal | |
| 8 | Bring the Scientist's core to a Monolith | Visit a Monolith to perform the operation. | Circuit Board |
| 9 | Return to the Scientist | The Scientist awaits at their terminal | |
| 9 | Collect a Korvax Convergence Cube | Infiltrate a Korvax facility and acquire a Convergence Cube. |
What the items do
Everything the quest hands over, with the description the game gives it.
| Item | What it does |
|---|---|
Acid | Dilute acid for high current generation in diverse power cells. |
Lubricant | A synthetic lubricant that reduces wear and prolongs the lifespan of technologies with moving parts. |
Microprocessor | A compact, low-heat microchip. Assembled from processed Chromatic Metal, created from one of several specialised terrain metals. |
Large Refiner | A vital piece of planetary equipment. The Refiner allows gathered substances to be processed into more powerful and more advanced materials. |
Save Beacon | Once activated, beacons provide a permanent navigational waypoint, facilitating repeat visits to specific locations. |
Living Glass | An advanced building material, this glass has been imbued with organic compounds that allow it to react to the environment. Microbes within the glass filter harmful light of all wavelengths and balance the atmosphere as required. |
Autonomous Mining Unit | An automated harvester for the mining of resources. Once activated, the AMU extracts minerals without the need for supervision, providing a regular yield until the site is exhausted. |
Atmosphere Harvester | An automated siphon unit for the collection of valuable gases. Once activated, the harvester condenses and compresses substances from the air over time. Compressed gas is then stored safely until collected. |
Unstable Gel | A highly reactive gel, this substance is both energy-rich and dangerous to touch. |
Poly Fibre | A connective fibre for electronics, made from an advanced synthetic polymer and capable of serving as a conduit for power and data. |
Circuit Board | Stackable, semi-flexible circuit board made from a highly durable synthetic polymer. |
The other base quests start from Expanding the Base.