---
description: Universal Science Discovery — claims, evidence, data, and scope
alwaysApply: true
---

# Universal Science Discovery

## Read first

When work touches hypotheses, evidence, methods, data, or “findings”, open and follow:

- `docs/VISION_AND_SCOPE.md`
- `docs/METHODOLOGY.md`
- `docs/ETHICS_REPRODUCIBILITY_AND_DATA.md`

Use `docs/DOC_MAP.md` for policy-to-behavior mapping; use `docs/REPOSITORY_MANIFEST.md` for per-file roles and `docs/ONBOARDING.md` for navigation order.

## Non-negotiables

- **Label speculation**; do not equate it with supported conclusions.
- **No fabricated citations**; prefer primary sources and stable IDs (DOI, arXiv).
- **No sensitive/raw restricted data** in-repo; reference approved storage and manifests instead.
- **Match repository scope** in `docs/VISION_AND_SCOPE.md`; flag scope expansions for explicit maintainer decision.
- **Prefer reproducibility**: tie results to `methods/`, `scripts/`, or clear procedural steps.

## Style

- Keep edits minimal and aligned with existing docs; avoid drive-by refactors.
- When updating policy, update `docs/DOC_MAP.md` and `AGENTS.md` in the same change when behavior changes.
- Keep **meta docs and the contributor hub** current per `documentation-and-dashboard.mdc` (CHANGELOG, `README`, [`dashboard/index.html`](../../dashboard/index.html), local verify at `http://localhost:8765/dashboard/` when hub paths change).