research-lookup

Research-Lookup - AI-driven Academic Research Information Retrieval Tool

Capabilities Overview

research-lookup is an intelligent academic research query tool based on the Perplexity Sonar model. It can automatically select the optimal retrieval model according to question complexity and quickly obtain scholarly literature, research data, and the latest scientific findings with citations.

Use Cases

1. Academic Paper Writing

When writing academic papers, quickly find high-quality literature in the relevant field, obtain complete citation information (authors, journal, year, DOI), and automatically identify high-impact papers and research published in top journals.

2. Background Research

Understand the latest research progress, hot directions, and academic controversies in a field; obtain statistical data, survey results, and expert opinions to provide substantive support for research proposals or literature reviews.

3. Fact-checking and Literature Verification

Verify whether citations in a paper are accurate and whether data sources are reliable, locate original studies to support arguments, or confirm whether a research conclusion has been confirmed or refuted by subsequent studies.

Core Features

1. Intelligent Model Auto-Selection

The tool will automatically choose Sonar Pro Search (fast fact retrieval) or Sonar Reasoning Pro (deep analysis and reasoning) based on query complexity. Simple queries like "statistical data for a given year" use the fast model; complex queries like "compare the pros and cons of two methods" automatically switch to the reasoning model.

2. High-Quality Paper Prioritization

Search results are ranked by paper impact, prioritizing highly cited papers, research published in top journals (Nature, Science, Cell, etc.), and work from well-known research teams. Each paper is labeled with citation counts and journal tier.

3. Multi-dimensional Academic Information Retrieval

Supports various search types including academic literature search, technical protocol queries, statistical data lookup, and citation localization. Whether searching for the latest CRISPR research progress or confirming the complete citation information of a classic paper, it can quickly return accurate results.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between research-lookup and traditional academic databases?

Traditional databases (such as PubMed, Web of Science) require users to construct search queries, filter results, and manually obtain full texts. research-lookup uses AI natural language understanding, allowing searches via direct questions. The system automatically summarizes core findings, extracts citation information, and identifies high-quality papers, greatly improving literature review efficiency.

How should I choose between Sonar Pro Search and Sonar Reasoning Pro?

In most cases you do not need to choose manually; the system will decide automatically. Simple factual queries (e.g., "the prevalence of a certain disease") will use Pro Search; complex queries requiring analysis and synthesis (e.g., "compare the advantages and disadvantages of two treatment methods") will use Reasoning Pro. If you need to force a choice, you can use the --force-model parameter.

Do I need an API key to use research-lookup?

Yes, you need an OpenRouter API key. OpenRouter is the gateway service for accessing the Perplexity Sonar model. After registering an OpenRouter account, obtain the API key and set it as the environment variable OPENROUTER_API_KEY to use the tool. Queries incur costs, but compared to directly subscribing to Perplexity Pro, it is more flexible and cost-controllable.