Consensus

What is Consensus?

Consensus is a search engine for science. Instead of searching blogs and websites, it searches published research papers and tells you what the studies actually say.

Think of it as asking a question to thousands of researchers at once.

What makes it special

• Research papers only: answers come from published studies, not opinions
• Consensus Meter: for yes/no questions, see how many studies say yes, no or maybe
• Clear summaries: complex research explained in simple language
• Easy to cite: every claim links to its paper

What you can do with it

• Check claims: "Does coffee improve focus?" See what research says
• Write assignments: find real studies to support your points
• Explore topics: quickly understand what's known about any subject
• Find key papers: discover the most cited studies on a topic

Get started in 3 steps

1. Go to consensus.app and sign up free
2. Type a clear question, such as "Does exercise improve memory?"
3. Read the summary, check the Consensus Meter and open the papers you need

Questions to try today

• "Does reading on screens reduce understanding compared to paper?"
• "Is a Mediterranean diet good for heart health?"
• "Does mobile phone use affect sleep quality?"
• "What are the benefits of learning a second language?"

Good to know

• Ask research-style questions: it works best for questions science can answer
• Read the paper: summaries help, but check the original for details
• Free to start: limited premium searches on the free plan; paid plans give more

Quick challenge

Think of a health "fact" you've always believed and check what research says!