Physics MCP Server

--- title: External Scientific APIs Tool kind: reference header_svg: src: "/assets/svg/tool-external-hero.svg" static: "/assets/svg/tool-external-hero-static.svg" title: "External Scientific APIs Tool" animate: true theme_variant: "auto" reduced_motion: "auto" --- {% assign header_svg = page.header_svg %} {% include header-svg.html %} # External Scientific APIs Tool The External APIs tool provides access to major scientific databases and repositories, allowing you to search for papers, download datasets, and access real-time scientific data. ## Available APIs ### arXiv Paper Repository - Search physics papers by category, author, or keywords - Download PDF files automatically - Access abstracts and metadata - Filter by date and relevance ### CERN Open Data - Access particle physics datasets from LHC experiments - Download AOD, MINIAOD, and NanoAOD formats - Filter by experiment (CMS, ATLAS, ALICE, LHCb) - Access derived datasets and analysis tools ### NASA Data Archives - Astronomy datasets from Hubble, Kepler, and other missions - Earth observation data from MODIS and other satellites - Planetary science data from Mars rovers and probes - Heliophysics data from solar observatories ### NIST Physical Data - Atomic and molecular data - Material properties and constants - Thermodynamic data - Spectroscopic databases ## Usage Examples ### Search arXiv Papers ```json { "tool": "api_tools", "params": { "api": "arxiv", "query": "dark matter detection", "category": "physics.ins-det", "max_results": 10, "sort_by": "relevance" } } ``` ### Access CERN Data ```json { "tool": "api_tools", "params": { "api": "cern", "dataset_name": "CMS-Run2011A-MuOnia", "experiment": "CMS", "data_type": "AOD", "year": 2011, "max_files": 5 } } ``` ### Download NASA Data ```json { "tool": "api_tools", "params": { "api": "nasa", "dataset_type": "astronomy", "mission": "Hubble", "instrument": "ACS", "coordinates": { "ra": 202.4696, "dec": 47.1952, "radius": 10 } } } ``` ### Query NIST Database ```json { "tool": "api_tools", "params": { "api": "nist", "element": "H", "property": "ionization_energy", "temperature": 298.15 } } ``` ## Educational Applications ### Literature Research - Find recent papers for student projects - Access classic papers in physics - Download papers for offline reading - Create bibliographies automatically ### Data Analysis Projects - Download real experimental data - Compare theoretical predictions with observations - Analyze trends in scientific data - Create data visualization projects ### Current Events in Physics - Track latest discoveries and breakthroughs - Access press releases and news - Find multimedia content (images, videos) - Connect classroom topics to current research ## Advanced Features ### Batch Downloads ```json { "tool": "api_tools", "params": { "api": "arxiv", "query": "quantum computing", "download_pdfs": true, "max_results": 50 } } ``` ### Date Range Filtering ```json { "tool": "api_tools", "params": { "api": "nasa", "dataset_type": "earth", "date_range": { "start": "2023-01-01", "end": "2023-12-31" } } } ``` ### Custom Queries ```json { "tool": "api_tools", "params": { "api": "cern", "query": "Higgs boson mass measurement", "experiment": "ATLAS", "year": 2023 } } ``` ## Integration with Other Tools ### Paper Analysis ```json { "tool": "api_tools", "params": { "api": "arxiv", "query": "machine learning physics" } } ``` ### Data Visualization ```json { "tool": "plot", "params": { "plot_type": "function_2d", "f": "/* data from NASA API */" } } ``` ### Report Generation ```json { "tool": "export_tool", "params": { "export_type": "overleaf", "title": "Research Summary", "bibliography": [/* papers from arXiv */] } } ``` ## Rate Limits and Best Practices ### API Limits - **arXiv**: 3 requests per second - **CERN**: 10 requests per minute - **NASA**: 1000 requests per hour - **NIST**: 100 requests per hour ### Optimization Tips - Cache results locally when possible - Use specific queries to reduce data transfer - Batch requests when downloading multiple items - Respect API terms of service ## Error Handling - **Network Issues**: Automatic retry with exponential backoff - **Rate Limiting**: Automatic throttling and queuing - **Authentication**: Clear error messages for API keys - **Data Validation**: Ensures downloaded data integrity ## Privacy and Ethics - **Attribution**: Properly cite downloaded papers and data - **Fair Use**: Respect copyright and usage policies - **Data Sharing**: Follow institutional guidelines - **Academic Integrity**: Use data responsibly in educational contexts