Fetch ScienceAlert headlines for a specified section, such as space, health, or tech, to quickly monitor current science news by topic.
Get ScienceAlert section headlines. Returns headlines from one public ScienceAlert section.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| section | Yes | Section slug |
Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.
v1.17.7Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
With no annotations, the description carries the full behavioral burden. It hints at the read-only nature ('public', 'Returns headlines') but says nothing about rate limits, auth requirements, pagination, or recency of results.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
Only two short sentences, which is appropriately sized, but the second sentence largely restates the first ('section headlines' vs 'headlines from one public ScienceAlert section') rather than adding information.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
There is no output schema and no annotations, so the description must explain what a returned headline looks like (title only, or title plus URL/date/author). It never does, and it also fails to list or explain the available section slugs, which live only in the schema enum.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
Schema description coverage is 100% and the single 'section' parameter is a fully enumerated slug, so the schema already does the heavy lifting. The description adds no meaning beyond the schema, which is the baseline 3 case.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
States a specific verb and resource ('Get ... headlines') and scopes it to a single ScienceAlert section. However, it never distinguishes itself from the sibling sciencealert_news or sciencealert_article, leaving the agent to guess which endpoint yields headline lists.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
There is no when-to-use guidance and no mention of alternatives, even though the sibling set contains sciencealert_news, sciencealert_sections, and sciencealert_article. The agent is left to infer the routing rules on its own.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.