Frequently asked questions
In short: Quick answers to the questions people ask most about SciNodes. Each answer links to a page with the full details. If your question isn't here, try Troubleshooting or contact Support.
Getting started
What is SciNodes?
SciNodes is an AI-assisted research platform for literature review and scientometric analysis. You gather publications into a project, map the field, read and annotate, ask an AI research assistant, and export citations. Start with Your first project.
Is SciNodes free?
Yes. Every account gets a free weekly allowance of 2,000,000 AI credits, which resets every Sunday at 00:00 UTC. Paid plans with larger allowances are coming soon. See Plans and billing.
Does SciNodes work on mobile?
Not yet. The SciNodes app needs a window at least 768 × 500 pixels, so use a laptop or desktop. On some tablets and phones you can click Use fullscreen and turn the device to landscape. See System requirements.
Which languages does SciNodes support?
The interface is in English only. AI explanations and research assistant replies are available in 20 languages, and you can translate publication titles and abstracts. See Research in another language.
What browser and computer do I need?
A modern desktop browser with WebGL2, and at least 4 GB of memory (16 GB recommended). Run Device Check from the user menu to test your device. See System requirements.
Do I need separate accounts for SciVerse, Academy and Support?
No. One SciNodes account works everywhere. For now, sign in to each product separately with the same details. See Single sign-on.
Projects and library
What files can I upload?
PDFs and reference exports: RIS, BibTeX, PubMed .nbib, EndNote .enw, Web of Science .ciw, CSV, TSV, Excel .xlsx and .txt. You can also upload ZIP files or whole folders. See File formats and limits.
Can I import my Zotero, Mendeley or EndNote library?
Yes. Export it as RIS or BibTeX, then upload it in a new project or with Add Publications → Upload Anything. See Bring your reference library.
How do I share a project with colleagues?
Open the project, click the gear icon for Project Settings, go to Collaborators, and invite them by email as Editor or Viewer. They need a SciNodes account. See Collaboration.
How do I get back a project I deleted?
Open the Bin in the sidebar and click Restore. The Bin shows how many days are left before permanent deletion. See Recycle bin.
What's the difference between removing from a folder and removing from the corpus?
Removing from a folder only takes the publication out of that folder. Remove from corpus takes it out of the project entirely and can't be undone. See Folders.
Maps
Which map should I make first?
Every new project builds an Initial Map (term co-occurrence) that shows the main topics. Then type a research question in the Map queries bar and SciNodes recommends a map. See Map types.
Why is my citation map empty?
Citation, co-citation and bibliographic coupling maps need reference lists. Click Fetch reference data once for the project. See Empty maps and reference data.
Why did one of my maps disappear?
New maps start as drafts, and each project holds up to 32 drafts. When you go over, the oldest draft is deleted. Click Save map on maps you want to keep. See Drafts and saving.
Can I export a map for a manuscript or slides?
Yes. Click Download on the map and export as PNG, JPEG, WEBP, SVG or PDF at up to 600 dpi. See Exporting maps.
Can I share a link to a map?
Not yet. Map share links are coming soon. Share the whole project with collaborators, or export the map as an image. See Sharing maps.
AI and credits
What are credits?
Credits measure AI use. All AI features, such as the research assistant, suggestions and translations, draw from one weekly budget. See Credits and usage.
When do my credits reset?
Every Sunday at 00:00 UTC. Unused credits don't roll over. Open Usage limits in the user menu to see what you've used.
Which assistant should I choose?
Sage (Superior) is the default. Vega (Standard) and Nova (Budget) cost fewer credits. Atlas (Expert) is locked. See Assistants and credits.
Can I trust the AI's answers?
Check them. AI answers can be wrong, including invented citations, and aren't professional advice. Always confirm claims against the publication. See Ask AI about your research.
What can the assistant see?
On each turn, the assistant sees what's "in view": the publication's PDF text if SciNodes holds a copy, plus your notes and highlights on it. The chat's About panel lists it. See Attachments and what's in view.
PDFs
Does SciNodes find full-text PDFs?
On request. Click Fetch PDF to look for an open-access copy. If there isn't one, click Upload PDF to add your own. See Fetching and uploading PDFs.
Are my uploaded PDFs private?
Yes. PDFs you upload stay private. Open-access PDFs that SciNodes fetches are shared copies. See Privacy and your data.
Where are my highlights saved?
In the project's notes, automatically. Each highlight becomes a note titled "Highlight (p. N) — title". See Highlights and comments.
SciVerse
Do I need an account to use SciVerse?
No. You can search and browse as a guest, but you see at most 8 results per search. Sign in to see every result. See Guest vs signed in.
Does searching SciVerse use my credits?
Only when you're signed in. Each signed-in search costs a flat amount from your weekly budget. Browsing and type-ahead suggestions are free. See Credits and usage.
How do I add a publication from SciVerse to a project?
Sign in, click Add to SciNodes on the publication card, and choose a project. It's added to that project's My references. See Add to SciNodes.
Academy
Do I need an account to use Academy?
No. All courses and articles are public. Sign in to save courses, mark lessons complete and track your progress. See Academy overview.
Do Academy courses give certificates?
No. Academy has no quizzes, certificates or enrollment. It tracks your progress in My learning. See My learning and saved.
Account and privacy
How do I reset my password?
Click Forgot password? on the sign-in page at app.scinodes.com, enter your email, and follow the link in the email. See Sign in and manage your password.
Who can see my projects?
Only people you invite. Collaborators see the project's content and your name, email and photo. See Privacy and your data.
How do I delete my account or export my data?
Self-service deletion and export are coming soon. Until then, contact Support with the category Account.
Plans and billing
How much will paid plans cost?
Pricing will be announced at launch. The plans will be Free, Economy, Base and Power, with 2, 6, 20 and 60 million credits per week. See Plans and billing.
What happens to my work if I downgrade later?
When billing launches, anything over a lower plan's limits will become read-only. Nothing will be deleted because of a downgrade. See Plans and billing.