AnswerPool

Lookup API: Look up statistical research momentum for one OpenAlex topic (free)

Look up statistical research momentum for one OpenAlex topic (free) — returns rank among ~4,500 topics, momentum z-score, 1y/3y/5y growth, acceleration and per-year counts. Use to screen a field before paying for a full judgment.

Free — no key, no signup, rate-limited to 60 calls per minute per client.

How do you call it?

GET /v1/technology/lookup — product id technology_lookup. Over MCP, call answerpool_get with product_id=technology_lookup.

curl "https://answerpool.io/v1/technology/lookup?topic=photonic+computing"

Live call: https://answerpool.io/v1/technology/lookup?topic=photonic+computing · JSON sample: /v1/samples/technology_lookup

What does the answer look like?

A representative response, the same static sample served at /v1/samples/technology_lookup.

scan_idscan_2026w35
computed_at2026-08-24T06:00:00Z
data_as_of2026-08-24
last_full_year2025
universe_size4516
method_idtechnology_momentum_stat_v1
topic.topic_idT12026
topic.nameQuantum error correction
topic.fieldPhysical Sciences
topic.subfieldCondensed Matter Physics
topic.rank3
topic.momentum_stat3.41
topic.growth_1y0.38
topic.growth_3y1.9
topic.growth_5y3.2
topic.acceleration_3y0.6
topic.decile_growth_3y1.4
topic.works_last_full_year1841
topic.works_10y6210
topic.is_emergingtrue
works_by_year.20231102
works_by_year.20241490
works_by_year.20251841
top_decile_by_year.2023118
top_decile_by_year.2024166
top_decile_by_year.2025204
refresh_after2026-09-18T00:00:00.000Z
The same sample as raw JSON
{
 "scan_id": "scan_2026w35",
 "computed_at": "2026-08-24T06:00:00Z",
 "data_as_of": "2026-08-24",
 "last_full_year": 2025,
 "universe_size": 4516,
 "method_id": "technology_momentum_stat_v1",
 "topic": {
  "topic_id": "T12026",
  "name": "Quantum error correction",
  "field": "Physical Sciences",
  "subfield": "Condensed Matter Physics",
  "rank": 3,
  "momentum_stat": 3.41,
  "growth_1y": 0.38,
  "growth_3y": 1.9,
  "growth_5y": 3.2,
  "acceleration_3y": 0.6,
  "decile_growth_3y": 1.4,
  "works_last_full_year": 1841,
  "works_10y": 6210,
  "is_emerging": true
 },
 "works_by_year": {
  "2023": 1102,
  "2024": 1490,
  "2025": 1841
 },
 "top_decile_by_year": {
  "2023": 118,
  "2024": 166,
  "2025": 204
 },
 "refresh_after": "2026-09-18T00:00:00.000Z"
}

How fresh is it, and where does the data come from?

The fastest source behind this answer can change daily, so every response carries a refresh_after timestamp — right now it would be 2026-09-18T00:00:00.000Z. Schedule the next call on that value rather than on a guess.

Method version 0.1.0 · serving cache 7 days · every response carries a result_id you can resolve at /v1/provenance.

When should you use it?

You have a topic and want its numbers now, or you are screening many topics.

What you skip building

When should you not use it?

You need leaders, influential works and a reasoned judgment — use technology_momentum.

Where else can you find this?