Scientific Articles Search Engine

This is my beginner-friendly guide to exploring real research like a pro.

Ever tried to Google something like “quantum physics paper” or “latest research on climate change” and ended up drowning in confusing PDFs or weird paywalls?

You’re not alone.

Finding real, trustworthy scientific articles can feel like a treasure hunt with no map.

But don’t worry, I’ve got you.

Whether you’re a student, a curious learner, or just someone who likes digging deeper, this post is your starter guide to exploring the world of science papers, without needing a PhD in Googling.

First Things First: What Is a Scientific Article?

Think of it like this:

A scientific article is a detailed report written by scientists about something they studied, tested, or discovered. It usually includes:

• Abstract: The TL;DR version
• Introduction: What they’re studying and why it matters
• Methods: How they did the research
• Results: What they found
• Discussion/Conclusion: What it all means

They publish their work not just to make a claim, but to help other researchers avoid reinventing the wheel.

Types of Scientific Articles:

1. Original Research Article
   • Purpose: To present new, original findings based on experiments or data.
   • Typical Sections: Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion
   • Used by: Scientists who are sharing their own experiments or data analysis.
   • Think of it like: A fresh recipe you invented, complete with ingredients, steps, and results.
   • Example Title: Evidence for the utility of quantum computing before fault tolerance. This paper reports experiments on a 127-qubit processor showing real results beyond classical methods.
2. Review Article
   • Purpose: To summarize, compare, and analyze existing research on a particular topic.
   • Typical Sections: Introduction, Summary of Findings, Discussion, Conclusion
   • Used by: Researchers or students to get an overview of what’s already been studied.
   • Think of it like: A roundup blog post "Top 10 studies you need to know about quantum computing."
   • Example Title: A Review of Quantum Scientific Computing Algorithms for Engineering Problems. This arXiv paper systematically explores foundational quantum computing concepts and their engineering applications
3. Systematic Review
   • Purpose: To thoroughly analyze all available studies on a specific question, using a fixed and transparent method.
   • Typical Sections: Research Question, Methods, Inclusion Criteria, Results, Discussion
   • Used by: Medical researchers, policy makers—when evidence must be strong and clear.
   • Think of it like: A scientific audit that follows strict rules to avoid bias.
   • Example Title: Quantum Computing: A Taxonomy, Systematic Review and Future Directions. This publication reviews quantum computing research with a structured taxonomy and future research needs
4. Meta-Analysis
   • Purpose: Combines data from multiple studies to create a single, powerful conclusion (often part of a systematic review).
   • Typical Sections: Similar to a systematic review, but with more stats!
   • Used by: Researchers looking for patterns in large datasets from different sources.
   • Think of it like: Mixing results from many small experiments to get one big answer.
   • Example Title: Comparative efficacy and tolerability of antidepressants for major depressive disorder in children and adolescents: a network meta-analysis. This paper is a meta-analysis that combining data from 34 trials involving antidepressants in young people.
5. Case Study / Case Report
   • Purpose: To report an unusual or interesting example—often in medicine or social science.
   • Typical Sections: Background, Case Description, Discussion
   • Used by: Doctors, psychologists, or researchers sharing specific, real-life examples.
   • Think of it like: A detailed journal entry about one fascinating situation.
   • Example Title: The Potential of Quantum Computing and Machine Learning to Advance Clinical Research and Change the Practice of Medicine. This paper present show case of a patient’s cancer treatment guided by quantum computing.
6. Short Communication / Brief Report
   • Purpose: To quickly share new findings or observations that aren’t enough for a full article.
   • Typical Sections: Condensed versions of original research format
   • Used by: Researchers with early results or time-sensitive data.
   • Think of it like: A scientific tweet—short, sharp, and important.
   • Example Title: Short communication: A single-dose mRNA COVID-19 vaccine generates strong immune responses. This paper present a fast-track communication of early results from vaccine studies.
7. Perspective / Opinion / Commentary
   • Purpose: To offer expert opinions, interpretations, or discussions about trends, theories, or controversial topics.
   • Typical Sections: Intro, Author's Viewpoint, Supporting Arguments
   • Used by: Senior researchers or thought leaders.
   • Think of it like: An op-ed piece in a newspaper—but for science.
   • Example Title: The AI drug revolution needs a revolution.This paper present an expert's opinion on how AI is transforming the research landscape on drugs revolution.
8. Letter to the Editor / Response
   • Purpose: To comment on or critique a previously published paper.
   • Typical Sections: Point-by-point arguments or clarifications
   • Used by: Fellow researchers contributing to an ongoing scientific conversation.
   • Think of it like: A public reply in a debate between researchers.
   • Example Title: Mental health effects of school closures during COVID-19. This paper discuss A formal response letter discussing findings from another recent study.
9. Technical Report / White Paper
   • Purpose: To describe a project, experiment, or technology in detail—often outside of peer-reviewed journals.
   • Typical Sections: Background, Methods, Results, Applications
   • Used by: Engineers, companies, government labs.
   • Think of it like: A behind-the-scenes look at how the science got done.
   • Example Title: The Future of Jobs Report 2023. A white paper discussing trends in technology and employment with extensive data.
10. Preprint
    • Purpose: A research paper shared online before it’s been peer-reviewed.
    • Typical Sections: Background, Methods, Results, Applications
    • Used by: Engineers, companies, government labs.
    • Think of it like: A behind-the-scenes look at how the science got done.
    • Example Title: The Memory Paradox: Why Our Brains Need Knowledge in an Age of AI. This paper shown an example pre print article.

Where to Find Scientific Articles? Here the search engine list. (✅=open access available. 💰=mostly/sometimes need subcriptions)

1. Google Scholar Google search engine but only shown scientific articles. ✅
2. Pub Med - For medicine, biology, or anything health-related. ✅💰
3. arxiv - Full of pre-review submission. ✅
4. DOAJ - Find open access journals & articles here. ✅
5. JSTOR - Open access journals & articles also available here. ✅💰
6. IOP Publisher - Journals & articles that published by IOP PUblishing. ✅💰
7. Proquest - Journals & articles that published by Proquest. ✅💰
8. Wiley - Journals & articles that published by Wiley.💰
9. SAGE - Journals & articles that published by SAGE Pub. ✅💰
10. Microsoft - Journals & articles that published by Microsoft. ✅
11. Sciencedirect - Journals & articles that published by Elsevier. ✅💰
12. Taylor and Francis - Journals & articles that published by Taylor and Francis. ✅💰
13. IEEE Xplore - Journals & articles that published by IEEE. ✅💰
14. ACM - Journals & articles that published by ACM. ✅💰
15. PERPUSNAS - Journals & articles that provided by Indonesian National Library. ✅
16. ResearchGate - Social network by researcher. You can ask paper directly to the author's if the author's join the platform. ✅
17. Academia.edu - Also social network by researcher. You also can ask the paper directly to the authors. ✅

If you’re stuck in that 'what now?' moment, just make a list. Make 'I-want-research-this' list.

Let me know if you want to hear some advice or guidance for being researcher.