Science Tab

Tab Icon

“I am one heck of a scientist.”

–Wilson

 

The Science Tab allows the player to craft scientific Items and Structures. It is displayed as the Atom icon on the left-hand side of the screen.

Reign of Giants

In the Reign of Giants DLC, the player can now craft Electrical Doodads, and Ice Flingomatics in the Science Tab.

Shipwrecked

In the Shipwrecked DLC, the player can now craft Ice Maker 3000s in the Science Tab.

Craftable Items

The following items can be crafted from the Science Tab:

Science Machine

Alchemy Engine

Divining Rod

Thermal Measurer

Rainometer

Gunpowder

Lightning Rod

Electrical Doodad

Ice Flingomatic

Ice Maker 3000

Prototyping

Generally, each Item or Structure must be "prototyped", or unlocked, at a particular crafting station. Once the item has been unlocked, it can be crafted anywhere, anytime (so long as the required materials are available). Tier 1 items can be unlocked at either a Science Machine or Alchemy Engine. Tier 2 items can only be unlocked at an Alchemy Engine.

Whenever an item is unlocked, the player's Sanity will be restored by 15 points. This is only when prototyping the item and not during subsequent construction of that item. With 93 craftable items in the game, as of the Strange New Powers update, that's 1,395 sanity to be gained; 600 of which is available via the Science Machine alone. Therefore, a very simple tactic for healing sanity is to hold off on prototyping new items until you need the sanity.

Trivia

• In the early beta of Don't Starve, the game used a 'Research points' system instead of prototyping.
  • Before that, Gold Nuggets were used to directly buy recipes.