Research workspace
OpenScience combines literature work, coding, experiments, compute, and results in one research workspace rather than separating these steps across unrelated tools.
OpenScience
OpenScience is an open-source AI workbench for scientific research, combining literature, coding, experiments, compute, and results in one workspace. Use free models or connect
OpenScience for scientific research
OpenScience is an open-source AI workbench for scientific research. It gives researchers a shared workspace for literature, code, experiments, compute, and results, with an AI agent that can read papers, write code, and run experiments alongside them.
The product supports free included models and connections to external providers, including Claude, GPT, and Gemini. Users can also use their own keys, local models, or eligible existing subscriptions. Its workflow is intended for tasks such as querying scientific databases, analyzing data, executing research code, and producing figures or other project outputs.
Key features
Agent-assisted research
The agent can read papers, write and run code, search scientific sources, generate figures, and continue a research task through follow-up analysis.
Scientific database tools
The site lists UniProt, PDB, ChEMBL, PubChem, arXiv, and 37 additional scientific databases as available tools.
Research skills
The product includes 371 skills across biology, chemistry, physics, machine learning, and writing, with a curated research core.
Managed compute
OpenScience can build environments and scale compute across a laptop, cluster, or GPUs, according to the product site.
Flexible model access
Users can choose included free models, connect providers such as Claude, GPT, and Gemini, use their own keys or local models, or access Ace-managed routes.
Use cases
Literature and database research
Use the agent to locate information across sources such as UniProt, PDB, ChEMBL, PubChem, and arXiv, then carry findings into the same project workspace.
Computational experiments
Describe a computational question, have the agent write and execute research code, inspect generated files or figures, and continue iterating from the results.
Analysis and figure generation
Coordinate a reproducible analysis that spans input data, code, compute resources, and visual outputs without moving the work between separate applications.
Parallel research exploration
Run parallel agents or sessions on a project when exploring multiple research directions or handling several related tasks.
Mixed model and provider workflows
Use Ace when a project needs managed model and search access, while retaining personal provider keys, subscriptions, or local models for other tasks.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Open-source workbench that brings literature, coding, experiments, compute, and results into one workflow.
- Supports included free models, external provider connections, personal keys, local models, and existing OpenAI subscriptions.
- Provides scientific database tools and a broad skills library spanning several research disciplines.
- Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux, with desktop and command-line installation options.
- Optional Ace service offers reviewed model routes and managed research search in one Wallet.
Cons
- The available evidence does not document detailed workspace setup, output formats, collaboration features, security controls, or deployment constraints.
- Model and search access through Ace uses pay-per-request billing, while the site does not provide a general comparison of all pricing or usage limits.
FAQ
How do I install OpenScience?
OpenScience is available as a desktop app for Windows 10 or later, macOS 12 or later, and Linux through x64 or ARM64 AppImage downloads. It can also be installed from the command line with the provided shell script, npm package, or npx command.
Do I need a separate AI subscription to use OpenScience?
No. OpenScience includes free models, and users can also connect their own keys, local models, or subscriptions. ChatGPT Plus or Pro users can sign in with OpenAI to use that subscription.
What can I do in the OpenScience workspace?
OpenScience is designed to bring literature, code, experiments, compute, and results into one workspace. The site demonstrates workflows involving scientific database lookup, code execution, generated figures, and research follow-up.
What is Ace and how does it work with OpenScience?
Yes. Ace is an optional managed service inside OpenScience. It provides access to reviewed models and managed research search through a pay-per-request Wallet, while users can continue using their own keys, subscriptions, and local models.
Is OpenScience open source?
The site identifies OpenScience as open-source and lists GitHub access. The collected pages do not provide further details about licensing, collaboration features, or deployment architecture.
Quick Facts
- Category
- Scientific research AI workbench
- Platforms
- Windows 10+, macOS 12+, Linux x64 and ARM64
- Installation
- Desktop downloads, shell installer, npm, and npx
- Model access
- Included free models, external providers, own keys, local models, and subscriptions
- Research tools
- Scientific databases, coding, experiments, compute, and figure generation
- Optional service
- Ace managed models and search with pay-per-request Wallet billing
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