Free educational library

Read the research. Check the data.

Short videos, plain language guides, and trusted sources on how research works, so you can read it, question it, and understand it for yourself.

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Why The Research Archive exists

Research is easier to find than ever, but harder to read well. Studies get summarized into headlines, headlines get turned into claims, and the original evidence often gets lost along the way.

The Research Archive was started to slow that down. Our short videos explain how research works in plain language: how to read a study, what a certificate of analysis actually shows, and how to tell strong sources from weak ones.

We also publish the laboratory documentation behind what we discuss, so you can review the data yourself rather than take anyone's word for it. Everything here is for education only.

Videos

Every video from the series, in one place.

Watch the videos

How to read research

Six questions worth asking about any study you come across.

Who or what was studied?

Look at the sample. Was it people, animals, or cells in a dish? How many? Results from a small group, or from a different species, may not apply to you or to anyone else.

Was there a comparison group?

Without a control group, there is no way to tell whether the thing being tested caused the result or whether it would have happened anyway. Randomized groups are the strongest design.

Is it correlation or cause?

Two things moving together does not mean one causes the other. Look for language like "associated with" versus "caused," and ask what else could explain the pattern.

Has anyone repeated it?

One study is a starting point, not a conclusion. Findings that hold up across several independent teams are far more trustworthy than a single exciting result.

Who paid for it?

Funding does not automatically make a study wrong, but it is worth knowing. Check the disclosures section for funders and for any conflicts of interest.

Where was it published?

Peer reviewed journals add a layer of expert scrutiny, while preprints have not been reviewed yet. Neither is a guarantee, so read the methods and not just the headline.

Key terms

The vocabulary you will see most often.

Peer review
Experts in the field evaluate a study before it is published. It improves quality but does not guarantee the findings are correct.
Randomized controlled trial
Participants are randomly assigned to groups so the effect of one factor can be isolated from everything else.
Meta analysis
A method that combines the results of many studies to look for an overall pattern.
Preprint
A study shared publicly before peer review. Useful for speed, but treat the conclusions as preliminary.
Sample size
The number of participants or observations. Small samples tend to give less reliable results.

Verified Laboratory Data

Certificates of analysis from independent third party laboratories, linked so you can check them yourself.

The certificates below are for Vexum Labs research materials and lots.

How to read a certificate of analysis

Identity confirms the compound is what it claims to be, usually by mass spectrometry. Purity is the share of the sample that is the target compound. Net content is the amount of compound measured in the sample. Safety screens, such as endotoxin and sterility tests, check for contamination. Results apply only to the sample that was tested.

Resources

Trusted places to read the original research and check claims for yourself.

Frequently asked questions

Short answers to the questions we hear most.

What is a certificate of analysis?

A report from a laboratory describing what was measured in one specific sample, such as its identity and purity. It applies to the lot and sample tested, not to every batch.

Is a high purity number enough?

Not by itself. Purity describes how clean the measured compound is, while net content describes how much of it is present. It also helps to see the method used, the lot number, and the date of testing.

Does a certificate mean something is safe?

No. A certificate describes measurements taken on a sample. It says nothing about whether a material is suitable or safe for any use, and the materials discussed here are for research and educational purposes only.

Is anything here medical advice?

No. The Research Archive is for educational and informational purposes only. For personal guidance, speak with a qualified professional.

Can I check a certificate myself?

Yes, and we encourage it. Every report is linked in full. Confirm the laboratory exists, check that the lot number matches, and contact the lab if you want to verify a report. Our free guide walks through each step.

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