Find out what a planet is before settling it.
Unlocks Planetary Scan missions and improves rare discovery chances by 2% per level, capped at 15%.
Xenobiology turns colonization into an information decision. Science Ships reveal worlds and higher levels improve the chance of valuable scan outcomes.
Science Ship surveys, informed colonization and the discovery of ruins, bonuses and rare worlds.
🔭 Unlocks Planetary Scan missions. Science Ships must survey a planet before colonization. Higher levels improve discovery rates.
Research time depends on the Research Laboratory level, the Intergalactic Research Network and the universe speed.
Each level multiplies the previous cost by ×2, so each further level gets steadily more expensive the further you push it.
| To level | Metal | Crystal | Deuterium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4,000 | 8,000 | 3,000 |
| 2 | 8,000 | 16,000 | 6,000 |
| 5 | 64,000 | 128,000 | 48,000 |
| 10 | 2,048,000 | 4,096,000 | 1,536,000 |
| 15 | 65,536,000 | 131,072,000 | 49,152,000 |
| Requirement | Type | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Technology | Research | 6 |
| Espionage Technology | Research | 4 |
| Expedition Technology | Research | 2 |
Every one of these must be met before Xenobiology & Archaeology can be ordered.
| Unlocked | Type | At level |
|---|---|---|
| Planetary Scan missions | Mission | 1 |
| Colonisation Doctrine | Research | 2 |
See the full technology list or return to the codex index.