Why comparing papers is hard
Two papers can look contradictory when they agree: a knockout that raises IL-17A and a drug that lowers it may both say the same gene restrains IL-17A. They can also look consistent when they differ in species, system (in vivo vs in vitro) or cell type. Paper Explorer makes these differences explicit.
Step by step
- Open Paper Explorer and choose <em>Compare 2–5 papers</em>. Enter one PubMed ID, PMCID or DOI per line. Open-access papers are read in full from Europe PMC; others from their abstract.
- Start with the <em>Bottom line</em>. Where the papers agree, where they disagree and what is worth a closer look, each with an evidence-strength label (strong when both claims are statistically supported and the finding holds across species, systems or designs), followed by caveats such as abstract-only papers or different species.
- Read the study design table. Species, system, disease models, perturbations, methods, reported sample sizes, statistical tests and data accessions side by side.
- Read the evidence map. For every readout measured in at least two papers: the perturbation, direction (▲ ▼ ●), species and system, and a support score (p value, sample size, figure, more than one sentence).
- Check the verdicts and their reasons. Consistent or Conflicting compare the regulator → readout sign. Different regulators are linked only through a relation a paper states or a curated enzyme → product link (for example Irg1 → itaconate). Hover or open a row for the reason and the context differences.
- Compare methods and reagents. Methods, mouse strains, antibody clones, doses, software versions and data accessions side by side, with the differences that most often explain discrepant results listed first.
- Export, save or keep reading. Download a comparison report (HTML) or CSV, save the comparison to your notebook, send shared genes to RNA Atlas, or add the papers to your reading list.
How to read “opposite direction”
When papers perturb different things, only raw directions can be compared; the tool labels this “direction only” and lists differences such as cell type or system. Treat it as a prompt to read the methods, not as a contradiction.
Build a reading list
From a literature triage table, a comparison or a single paper, choose ＋ Reading list. In your notebook, mark papers as to read, reading or read, add notes, compare two to five selected papers, or export the list for Zotero, EndNote or Mendeley (RIS).
Open Paper Explorer Next guide: reagents and data
Questions
Does it use AI?
No. It is rule-based and extractive: it quotes sentences from the papers and never writes new claims.
Can it read paywalled papers?
Only the abstract is available by identifier; upload your own PDF for a single-paper analysis.
How reliable are the verdicts?
They are as good as the sentences they are built from. Every row links to its quoted sentence and figure so you can check it.
Found something wrong or unclear? Write to contact@solveseverything.com. See also: how results are validated.