Research

Research is an extremely important mechanic in Frackin' Universe. It allows you to learn ("unlock") the recipes of "how to craft ". You can do so via the Research Tree in your Tricorder.

Existing research trees
There are several trees:

You can see them all in-game in your Tricorder.

Cost to unlock
To unlock the Research Node (e.g. ""), you spend special currency called "Research". You get 1 research every 2 seconds (more when exploring higher-tier worlds, up to tier 6). It stops accumulating if you were AFK (away from keyboard) for too long.

Most nodes will also require that you have some materials (e.g. you need Iron Ore to research ). These materials are NOT consumed.

How to get more research?
You can increase the number of your Research currency by:
 * Placing items into computers (Basic Computer, Personal Computer, Advanced Computer or Research Server, Precursor Data Box or Research Mainframe). This gives you Research based on the price of item. The item is consumed.
 * Studying artifacts, geodes, etc. in microscopes (e.g. Apex Microscope).
 * Doing quests in your Tricorder and in the Science Outpost (some of them give research as a part of their rewards).
 * Research accumulates faster when you are exploring higher-tier worlds (note that tier 6 is the maximum - if you explore a tier 10 world, the rate will be the same as for tier 6 world).
 * The more unspent Madness you have, the faster will the Research accumulate.

Madness research
Nodes of Metaphysics (Madness) tree require Madness currency (which is consumed when unlocking them) in addition to Research currency. You may speak to Kevin in the Science Outpost if you don't have any Madness - he will gladly share his Madness with you (if you assist him with his crazy quests).

Technologies in this tree are somewhat crazy (like extracting brains and using their Brain Power for electricity), but studying them can lead so some scientific breakthoughs (if you are mad enough to go there).

Disks
You can craft Research Microdisc, Research Holodisc or Research Megadisc to store some of your Research (500/1000/5000 respectively) in chests, etc. It's not necessary to do so, except for situations when these disks are needed to unlock techs like Physics Field.