NewMeet Lio — your AI research guide

Theioptera turns a vague idea into a clear research path —
one confident next step at a time, guided by Lio.

Built by a self-taught researcher, for self-taught researchers

Don't take our word for it — open the real workspace with sample data and see what Lio actually does. No sign-up.

// The Vision

Talent isn't the bottleneck — knowing where to start is. The research process has no manual, so brilliant people stall before they begin. Theioptera exists to hand you that manual, alive and personal.

1
clear next action from Lio — never a wall of ten things to do.
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literature databases Lio searches before answering a research question — PubMed, OpenAlex and Semantic Scholar.
Theioptera's first screen: the question 'What problem are you solving', a box to answer in plain language, and a voice button.
Where every project starts. One question, in your own words — no keywords, no query syntax.
// Meet Lio

Lio reads your project, your phase, and your progress — then gives you the one move that matters.

Map the fieldKey papersPlain English

Orient

From blank page to informed in one session — Lio charts the landscape around your question.

See it

No keyword syntax. Tell Lio what you're trying to figure out — out loud or typed — and it answers the way a mentor would: which question you're really asking, and where to start. It writes down what it understood about your project, so you can correct it.

A conversation with Lio about comparing the blood-brain barrier across species, citing two papers, above a voice-first message box.
The conversation, with the papers it drew on cited
The What Lio knows panel: project summary, stage, tags and due date, with a Tap to correct control.
What Lio knows — tap to correct
Matched sourcesNo overwhelmSave to project

Curate

Only the papers, tools and methods that fit your situation — surfaced, never dumped.

See it

Materials attach to the step that needs them, not to a general reading pile. Each one keeps its source, so you can open the paper itself rather than take Lio's word for it.

The For this step panel listing four papers attached to the current step, with authors, journal and year.
The materials for the step you're on
One next stepHonest check-insMilestones

Progress

Lio tracks your phase, flags drift, and keeps you moving with real feedback.

See it

One step you can start now — with why it comes next, what evidence it rests on, and the assumption it hasn't tested yet. Then Not now, or Add your own step: it's your research, not Lio's.

The next step card with Why, Evidence and Limits, above Start this step and Not now.
The next step, and what it rests on
These are screens from the real workspace, with sample data — not a mock-up. Open it yourself, no sign-up required.
// How it works
Every project moves through these — at your pace, not a fixed schedule
Phase 1
Orientation
Lio works out what you're trying to build, why it matters to you, what you already know — and what's likely to slow you down.
Phase 2
Assessment
An honest read on where you are versus where you need to be: the real gaps in vocabulary, prerequisites and method.
Phase 3
Progression
One clear step you can actually take this week — then the next one, once you've done it.
// Grounded in

Before Lio answers a research question it searches the literature — and checks every citation it gives you against what actually came back. When the literature is thin, it says so instead of inventing a source.

PubMed
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Biomedical and life-science literature from the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

OpenAlex
openalex.org

An open index of hundreds of millions of scholarly works, across every field.

Semantic Scholar
semanticscholar.org

Papers and their citation graph, so Lio can follow what builds on what.

// Voices
“

I tried Theioptera, and I really liked it. I found it quite helpful and interesting, especially for understanding research papers and getting a better idea of what to learn next.

Biotechnology undergraduate
Early access · September 2026
“

An AI research guide aimed at making literature and methodology accessible without direct lab access or mentorship is both genuinely useful and needed.

Molecular biology & genetics student
Early access · September 2026
185

researchers are using Theioptera in early access — and they're still writing this section. Try it and tell us what actually happened, the good and the broken.

// Pricing

Two paid tiers, both fully unlimited. Pick the one that matches how far you're taking your research.

Free

Unlimited AI questions for your first 7 days, then 7 a day.

$0forever
  • 3 projects
  • 7-day trial: unlimited AI questions
  • 7 AI questions per day after your trial
  • Roadmaps & next-step prompts
  • Materials library
StudentFounding · Best value

For undergrads & aspiring biotech folks going all in.

$9per month
  • Unlimited projects
  • Unlimited AI questions
  • Deep Q&A with Lio (long conversations)
  • Voice mode for hands-free study
  • Priority response times
  • Cancel anytime
Pro

For researchers & serious deep-dive work.

$14per month
  • Everything in Student, plus:
  • Advanced research reports & exports
  • Data API access for your projects
  • Email & priority support
  • Advanced analytics & insights
  • Batch source uploads

The $9 Founding Member rate is time-limited — join now and keep it after the public price rises. Card, PayPal, Apple & Google Pay via Gumroad.

// Get started
// Stay in the loop

Occasional essays on biotech, research, and building Theioptera — straight to your inbox.