paper-lookup

Paper Lookup - Multi-Database Academic Literature Search Tool

Overview of Skills

Paper Lookup is an intelligent search tool that integrates 10 authoritative academic literature databases. It supports finding papers using identifiers such as DOI, PMID, and arXiv ID, retrieving citation relationships and open-access full text, and provides a complete record of the search process to ensure the results are reproducible.

Use Cases

Academic Literature Research and Search - Search for academic papers on specific topics in databases such as PubMed, Semantic Scholar, and OpenAlex. It supports multidisciplinary fields including biomedicine, physics, and computer science, making it suitable for writing literature reviews, topic investigations, and literature tracking.

Citation Relationship Analysis - Query which papers cite a given paper to analyze academic impact and research context. It supports obtaining complete citation graph data via Semantic Scholar and OpenAlex.

Locating Open-Access Full Text - Find free PDF versions of papers through databases such as Unpaywall, PMC, and CORE. It supports DOI lookups and open-access status checks, helping researchers quickly obtain full text without being blocked by paywalls.

Core Features

Intelligent Database Routing - Automatically select the most suitable academic database based on the query type: prioritize PubMed for biomedical papers; use bioRxiv/medRxiv/arXiv for preprints; use OpenAlex and Semantic Scholar for cross-disciplinary searches. This avoids ineffective queries and duplicate searches.

Flexible Multi-Identifier Querying - Supports multiple academic identifiers including DOI, PMID, PMCID, arXiv ID, and OpenAlex ID. Provides identifier format validation and conversion. When one database returns no results, it automatically tries other databases or converts identifier formats for a retry.

Reproducibility and Data Traceability - Each search returns a complete query record, including API endpoints, query parameters, access dates, pagination information, etc. This ensures results can be reproduced and meets requirements for research data traceability and academic rigor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the differences between Paper Lookup and literature search tools like Google Scholar or Web of Science?

Paper Lookup is an API-based, programmatic search tool focused on providing reproducible and traceable search process records. Google Scholar is better suited for discovery through browsing. Compared with traditional literature databases, Paper Lookup integrates 10 open APIs, allowing access without subscription. It also automatically selects the most appropriate database, avoiding switching between platforms. It is especially suitable for research scenarios that require bulk searches, automated literature processing, or full search record keeping.

How can I find a paper’s open-access full text?

Use a DOI lookup with the Unpaywall database to quickly obtain the paper’s open-access status and PDF links. For biomedical papers, the PMC database provides millions of free full texts. For other disciplines, use CORE’s global open-access repository. Paper Lookup will automatically route to the appropriate database based on the paper type and return verifiable links to the full text, avoiding access to paywalled content.

Which academic databases are best for my search needs?

Paper Lookup provides a detailed database selection guide: for biomedical papers, start with PubMed (37M+ records); for full text, use PMC; physics and computer science preprints use arXiv; cross-disciplinary searches use OpenAlex (250M+ works) or Semantic Scholar; citation analysis recommends Semantic Scholar; and journal/publisher metadata queries use Crossref. The tool will automatically recommend the primary and alternative databases based on your query.