Topic

xTATTEREDx · +FINE+ · *SUPERIOR* · ≡EXCEPTIONAL≡ · ☼MASTERWORK☼

v50.12 · v0.47.05

This article is about the current version of DF.
Note that some content may still need to be updated.

A diagram of all knowledge topics.

Topics (also Tech or Innovations) are part of knowledge.

There are around 300 innovations that can be discovered. Many of them have requirements, and many do not, so it's kind of a tech forest/grassland rather than a tree. Notably missing are innovations related to practical labors in the game (which will be added later in development). Only the discovery of certain "form" type topics has any effect on gameplay, as it allows scholars to write new types of books; star charts, atlases, dictionaries and various historical forms.

Several innovations require innovations from other branches, and since all knowledge is individually tracked, that implies some investigators will need to be at least well-read if not skilled in various topics (there aren't currently joint research projects). There are some old and new mechanisms in place to ensure this happens.

There are 9 "branches" of the knowledge system. Each branch is further divided into categories of topics, such as methodologies, theories, etc.

Astronomy

Topic	Description	Wikipedia link	Subdivision
Empirical observation	Methods of empirical observation in astronomy	Empirical evidence	Method
Path models		Orbit modeling	Method
Astrography	The creation of star charts	Star chart	n/a
Dates of lunar and solar eclipses		Saros (astronomy)	n/a
Daylight variation with solar year	The variation of daylight with the season	Daytime § Daytime variations with latitude and seasons	n/a
Geocentrism	The theory that the sun moves around the world	Geocentric model	n/a
Height of tides vs moon and sun	The height of the tides, the moon and the sun	Pytheas § Pytheas on the tides and Tide	n/a
Heliocentrism	The theory that the world moves around the sun	Heliocentric model	n/a
Path of the moon	The path of the moon	Orbit of the Moon	n/a
Phases of the moon	The phases of the moon	Lunar phase	n/a
Precession of equinoxes		Axial precession	n/a
Relationship between lunar/solar year	The relationship between the lunar and solar year	Lunisolar calendar	n/a
Shape of the world		Spherical Earth	n/a
Star catalogues 100		Star catalogue	n/a
Star catalogues 1000		Star catalogue	n/a
Star magnitude classification		Magnitude (astronomy)	n/a
Stellar Spectroscopy	The classification of stars based on the light they emit	Astronomical spectroscopy	n/a
Summer/winter moon	The rise of the moon according to the season	Lunar calendar	n/a
Summer/winter sun	The rise of the sun according to the season	Solar calendar	n/a
Tides and the moon	The relationship between the moon and the tides	Seleucus of Seleucia § Tides and Tide	n/a

Chemistry

Topic	Description	Wikipedia link	Subdivision
Adhesives	The preparation and use of adhesive materials	Adhesive	Chemicals
Aqua regia	The preparation of aqua regia	Aqua regia	Chemicals
Oil of vitriol	The preparation of oil of vitriol	Sulfuric acid	Chemicals
Spirit of niter	The preparation of spirit of niter	Nitric acid	Chemicals
Alkali and acids	The classification of alkali and acids	pH	Classification
Combustibles	The classification of combustible materials	Combustibility	Classification
Elemental theory	The classification of materials based on which elemental materials might form them	Classical element or Atomic theory	Classification
Ores	The classification of ores	Ore	Classification
Scratch test		Scratch hardness	Classification
Alembic	The construction and use of the alembic	Alembic	Laboratory
Blast furnace	The construction and use of the blast furnace	Blast furnace	Laboratory
Crucible	The construction and use of the crucible	Crucible	Laboratory
Lab ovens	The construction and use of laboratory ovens	Laboratory oven	Laboratory
Systematic experiments	Methods for performing experiments systematically in the laboratory	Scientific method	Laboratory
Theory of distillation	The theory and methods involved in distillation	Distillation	Laboratory
Theory of evaporation	The theory and methods involved in evaporation	Evaporation	Laboratory
Theory of liquid-liquid extraction	The theory and methods involved in the extraction of a constituent liquid from one solution to another	Liquid–liquid extraction	Laboratory
Ampoule	The construction and use of the ampoule	Ampoule	Laboratory (glass)
Beaker	The construction and use of the beaker	Beaker	Laboratory (glass)
Flask	The construction and use of the flask	Flask	Laboratory (glass)
Funnel	The construction and use of the funnel	Funnel	Laboratory (glass)
Retort	The construction and use of the retort	Retort	Laboratory (glass)
Vial	The construction and use of the vial	Vial	Laboratory (glass)
Alloys	The mixing of metals to produce alloys	Alloy	Metallurgy

Engineering

Topic	Description	Wikipedia link	Subdivision
Armillary sphere	The construction and use of armillary spheres	Armillary sphere	Astronomy
Astrolabe	The construction and use of the astrolabe	Astrolabe	Astronomy
Dioptra	The construction and use of the dioptra	Dioptra	Astronomy
Mural instrument	The construction and use of a mural instrument or mural quadrant	Mural instrument	Astronomy
Orrery		Orrery	Astronomy
Spherical astrolabe		Astrolabe	Astronomy
Wood lamination	The use of lamination	Lamination	Construction
Models and templates	The use of models and templates in engineering	Prototype and Stencil	Design
Archimedes principle	The law of fluid displacement	Archimedes' principle	Fluid
Force pump		Piston pump § Force pump	Fluid
Theory of siphon	The action of the siphon	Siphon	Fluid
Valves	The construction and use of valves	Valve	Fluid
Astrarium		Astrarium	Horology
Conical water clock		Water clock	Horology
Hourglass		Hourglass	Horology
Mechanical clock		Clock § Early mechanical clocks	Horology
Shadow clock	The use of shadows to tell direction and time	Sundial	Horology
Water clock	The use of water-based devices to tell time	Water clock	Horology
Water clock reservoir	The use of reservoirs in water-based clocks to improve their accuracy	Zhang Heng § Extra tank for inflow clepsydra	Horology
Balance wheel		Balance wheel	Machine
Bellows	The construction and use of the bellows	Bellows	Machine
Camshaft		Camshaft	Machine
Chain drive	The construction and use of chain drives	Chain drive	Machine
Chariot odometer		Odometer	Machine
Combination lock		Combination lock	Machine
Crank		Crank (mechanism)	Machine
Crankshaft		Crankshaft	Machine
Differential gear		Differential (mechanical device)	Machine
Double acting piston bellows		Bellows	Machine
Lever	The construction and use of the lever	Lever	Machine
Mechanical compass		Compass	Machine
Padlock	The construction and use of the padlock	Padlock	Machine
Piston		Piston pump § Force pump	Machine
Pulley	The construction and use of the pulley	Pulley	Machine
Screw	The construction and use of the screw	Screw	Machine
Straight beam balance	The construction and use of the straight-beam balance	Weighing scale § Mechanical balances	Machine
Theory of gears	The reasons why gears are effective	Gear	Machine
Theory of lever	The reasons why the lever is effective	Lever	Machine
Theory of pulley	The reasons why pulleys are effective	Pulley	Machine
Theory of screw	The reasons why screws are effective	Screw	Machine
Theory of wedge	The reasons why the wedge is effective	Wedge	Machine
Theory of wheel and axle	The reasons why the wheel-and-axle construction is effective	Wheel and axle	Machine
Trip hammer		Trip hammer	Machine
Tumbler lock	The construction and use of the tumbler lock	Pin tumbler lock	Machine
Verge escapement	The construction and use of the verge escapement	Verge escapement	Machine
Warded lock	The construction and use of the warded lock	Warded lock	Machine
Water-powered piston bellows		Du Shi § The Water-Powered Blast Furnace	Machine
Water-powered sawmill		Watermill	Machine
Water-powered trip hammer		Trip hammer and Water wheel	Machine
Water wheel		Water wheel	Machine
Windlass	The construction and use of the windlass	Windlass	Machine
Atmospheric refraction		Atmospheric refraction	Optics
Camera obscura	The construction and use of the camera obscura	Camera obscura	Optics
Cause of twilight		Atmospheric optics	Optics
Crystal lens	The construction and use of the crystal lens	Lens (optics) and Crystal	Optics
Glass lens	The construction and use of the glass lens	Lens (optics) and Glass	Optics
Height of atmosphere		Atmosphere of Earth	Optics
Law of refraction		Snell's law	Optics
Parabolic mirror		Parabolic reflector	Optics
Theory of color		Color theory	Optics
Theory of rainbows		Rainbows	Optics
Water-filled spheres	The construction and use of water-filled spheres as lenses	Lens (optics) and History of optics § Early history of optics	Optics

Geography

Topic	Description	Wikipedia link	Subdivision
Accurate maps		Map	Cartography
Cartography	The process involved in creating maps	Cartography	Cartography
Distance scale		Scale (map)	Cartography
Economic	The placement of economic information on maps	Economic geography	Cartography
Geological	The placement of geological information on maps	Geologic map	Cartography
Grid system		Grid reference	Cartography
Height measurements		Topographic map and Levelling	Cartography
Map projections		Map projection	Cartography
Atlases	The collection of maps and other information together into a single text	Atlas	Form
Econometrics	The process of economic data collection	Econometrics	Method
Cartographical surveying		Cartography and Surveying	Surveying
Engineering surveying		Construction surveying	Surveying
Land surveying		Cadastral surveying	Surveying
Military surveying		Construction surveying and Military engineering	Surveying
Surveying	The process of surveying land	Surveying	Surveying
Surveying staff	The construction and use of the surveying staff	Level staff	Surveying
Triangulation		Triangulation	Surveying
Anemology	The forces that govern wind patterns	Global wind patterns	Theory
Delta formation	The process of the formation of deltas at the mouths of rivers	River delta § Formation	Theory
Latitude climate zones		Clime	Theory
Origin of rainfall from evap condense	The origin of rainfall through evaporation and condensation	Evaporation and Condensation	Theory
Water cycle	A world-wide cycle involving precipitation, oceans, rivers, and other forms of water	Water cycle	Theory

History

Topic	Description	Wikipedia link	Subdivision
Alternate history	The exploration of how history would be different if some key past events had transpired differently	Alternate history	Form
Autobiographical adventure	The method of writing a biography of oneself, particularly as it concerns a military campaign or adventure	Autobiography	Form
Biographical dictionaries	The compilation of brief biographies into one large collection	Biographical dictionary	Form
Biography	The method of writing the history of a single individual	Biography	Form
Comparative anthropology	The method of comparing and contrasting different cultures	Cross-cultural studies	Form
Comparative biography	The method of compiling several biographies to compare and contrast the subjects' character and to gain insight into history	Biography	Form
Cultural history	The method of accurately and comprehensively describing cultures and civilizations	Cultural history	Form
Encyclopedia		Encyclopedia	Form
Genealogy	The compilation of family lineages and methods of displaying them artfully	Genealogy	Form
Treatise on tech evolution		Technological evolution	Form
Archaeology	The method of collecting and evaluating artifacts to learn about history and culture	Archaeology	Sourcing
Personal interviews	Using personal interviews as sources	Interview	Sourcing
Role of cultural differences	The role of cultural differences in source reliability and interpretation	Cultural relativism	Sourcing
Role of state bias and propaganda		Propaganda	Sourcing
Role of systemic bias		Systemic bias	Sourcing
Source reliability	The reliability of sources	Source criticism	Sourcing
Historical causation	The causes of historical events	Causality § History	Theory
Historical cycles	The notion of historical, governmental and social cycles	Cyclic history	Theory
Social conflict		Social conflict	Theory
Sociology	The notion of bonds between members of a community	Sociology	Theory

Mathematics

Topic	Description	Wikipedia link	Subdivision
Divergence of harmonic series	The divergence of the harmonic series	Harmonic series (mathematics)	Algebra
Equations	The technique of balancing and completion for solving equations	The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing, Algebra, and Equation	Algebra
Large sums	Simple formulas for certain arbitrarily large sums	Summation	Algebra
Pascal's triangle	A triangular configuration of numbers relating to the successive powers of any sum	Pascal's triangle	Algebra
Quadratic by completing square	The solving of quadratic equations by completion of the square	Completing the square	Algebra
Quadratic formula	A formula which solves quadratic equations	Quadratic formula	Algebra
Solving higher order polynomials	Methods for solving certain equations involving powers higher than the quadratic	Galois theory	Algebra
Systems of equations	Methods of solving systems of equations	Linear system	Algebra
Area enclosed by line and parabola	The area enclosed by a parabola and a line	The Quadrature of the Parabola	Geometry
Area of circle		Area of a disk	Geometry
Area of triangle from side lengths		Heron's formula	Geometry
Basic geometry	Geometric objects: points, lines, circles, triangles, and so on	Geometry	Geometry
Chords	The properties of chords	Chord (geometry)	Geometry
Chord tables	A table of chord lengths indexed by angle	Ptolemy's table of chords	Geometry
Conic sections	The categorization and properties of conic sections	Conic section	Geometry
Existence of pi	The relationship between the area of a circle and its radius, involving the ratio of the circumference of the circle to its diameter	Pi	Geometry
Geometric mean	The relationship between the length of the altitude of a right triangle and the lengths of the segments into which it divides the hypotenuse	Geometric mean theorem	Geometry
Inscribed triangle on diameter is right	The angles of triangles inscribed in a circle with one edge on the diameter	Thales' theorem	Geometry
Irrational numbers	The existence of incommensurable ratios	Irrational number	Geometry
Isosceles base angles equal	The equality of the base angle of isosceles triangles	Pons asinorum	Geometry
Law of sines		Law of sines	Geometry
Pi to 6 digits		Zu Chongzhi § Mathematics and Milü	Geometry
Pythagorean theorem	The relationship between the lengths of the hypotenuse of a right triangle and the other two sides	Pythagorean theorem	Geometry
Pythagorean triples 3 digit	Examples of triples of large whole numbers which, when taken together, are the lengths of the sides of a right triangle	Pythagorean triples	Geometry
Pythagorean triples 4 digit	Examples of triples of very large whole numbers which, when taken together, are the lengths of the sides of a right triangle	Pythagorean triples	Geometry
Pythagorean triples small	Examples of triples of small whole numbers which, when taken together, are the lengths of the sides of a right triangle	Pythagorean triples	Geometry
Similar and congruent triangles	The properties of similar and congruent triangles	Similarity (geometry) and Congruence (geometry)	Geometry
Sum-difference trig identities	Trigonometric identities relating to the sums and differences of angles	List of trigonometric identities § Angle sum and difference identities	Geometry
Surface area of sphere	The computation of the surface area of a sphere	Sphere § Surface area	Geometry
Volume of cone	The computation of the volume of a cone	Cone § Volume	Geometry
Volume of pyramid	The computation of the volume of different pyramids	Pyramid (geometry) § Volume	Geometry
Volume of sphere	The computation of the volume of a sphere	Sphere § Volume	Geometry
Axioms	Axiomatic reasoning	Axiomatic system	Method
Method of exhaustion	An approximation of the ratio of a circumference of a circle to its diameter, using the area of polygons and the method of exhaustion	Method of exhaustion	Method
Proof by contradiction	The method of proof by contradiction	Proof by contradiction	Method
Algebra	Notation for abbreviating the unknown and other elements of an equation in a systematic and useful fashion	Algebra	Notation
Negative numbers	Notation for negative quantities	Negative number	Notation
Place values	Positional notation	Positional notation	Notation
Scientific notation	Notation for very large numbers	Scientific notation	Notation
Symbol for addition	The idea of using symbolic notation for addition	Plus and minus signs § Plus sign	Notation
Zero	A symbol for nothingness	0 (number)	Notation
Approximation of root 2	An approximation for the length of the diagonal of a square	Square root of 2 § History	Numbers
Chinese remainder algorithm	An algorithm for computing a number which has given remainders when divided by several given primes	Chinese remainder theorem	Numbers
Division	An algorithm for dividing one number into another, possibly yielding a remainder	Euclidean division	Numbers
Euclid's Theorem	A proof that there are infinitely many prime numbers	Euclid's theorem	Numbers
Euclidean Algorithm	An algorithm for computing the greatest common divisor of two numbers	Euclidean algorithm	Numbers
Irrationality of root 2	A proof that the length of a diagonal of a square is incommensurable with its edge	Square root of 2 § Proofs of irrationality	Numbers
Sieve algorithm for primes		Sieve of Eratosthenes	Numbers
Unique prime factorization	The unique decomposition of a number into products of its prime divisors	Fundamental theorem of arithmetic	Numbers

Medicine

Topic	Description	Wikipedia link	Subdivision
Anesthesia	Anesthesia	Anesthesia	Method
Asylum for mentally ill		Psychiatric hospital	Method
Autopsy		Autopsy	Method
Cataract surgery		Cataract surgery	Method
Cauterization	Cauterization	Cauterization	Method
Fracture immobilization		Bone fracture § Immobilization	Method
Fracture treatment	The treatment of fractures	Bone fracture § Treatment	Method
Hernia surgery	Hernia surgery	Hernia § Surgery	Method
Hospital lab		Medical laboratory	Method
Lithotomy surgery	The lithotomy surgery	Lithotomy	Method
Medical school		Medical school	Method
Physical examination	The method of physical examination in diagnosing illness	Physical examination	Method
Professional hospital staff		Surgeon and Physician	Method
Specialized wards		Hospital § Departments or wards	Method
Tracheotomy surgery	The tracheotomy surgery	Tracheotomy	Method
Traumatic injuries	The treatment of traumatic injuries	Major trauma	Method
Draining	The surgical method of draining	Drain (surgery)	Method (surgery)
Excision	The surgical method of excision	Excision	Method (surgery)
Incision	The surgical method of incision	Surgical incision	Method (surgery)
Ligature	The surgical method of ligature	Ligature (medicine)	Method (surgery)
Probing	The surgical method of probing	Endoscopy	Method (surgery)
Scraping	The surgical method of scraping	Debridement	Method (surgery)
Suturing	The surgical method of suturing	Surgical suture	Method (surgery)
Acute and chronic conditions	The distinction between acute and chronic conditions	Acute (medicine) and Chronic condition	Theory
Anatomical studies	Anatomical studies for medical edification	Human body	Theory
Blood vessels		Blood vessel	Theory
Classification of bodily fluids	The classification of bodily fluids	Body fluid or Humorism	Theory
Classification of mental illnesses		Mental disorder	Theory
Classification of muscles		Muscle	Theory
Comparative anatomy		Comparative anatomy	Theory
Convalescence		Convalescence	Theory
Disease and fouled water	The connection between disease and fouled water	Waterborne diseases	Theory
Endemic disease		Endemic (epidemiology)	Theory
Epidemic disease	The theory of epidemic disease	Epidemic	Theory
Exacerbation	The notion of the exacerbation of a patient's condition	Exacerbation	Theory
Eye anatomy	The anatomy of the eye	Human eye	Theory
Fracture classification	The classification of fractures	Bone fracture § Classification	Theory
Motor vs sensory nerves		Motor nerve and Sensory nerve	Theory
Nervous system function		Nervous system	Theory
Paroxysm	The notion of paroxysm	Paroxysmal attack	Theory
Pathology	The classification of disease	Nosology	Theory
Prognosis	Determining the likely outcome given a patient's current status	Prognosis	Theory
Pulmonary circulation		Pulmonary circulation	Theory
Pulmonary medicine	Pulmonary medicine	Pulmonology	Theory
Reaction time		Mental chronometry	Theory
Relapse		Relapse	Theory
Specialized surgical instruments	The use of specialized surgical instruments	Surgical instrument	Theory
Surgical models	The use of practice models in surgery	Surgical planning	Theory
The voice	The source of the voice	Phonation	Theory
Toxicology	The classification of toxic substances	Toxicology	Theory
Treatment of mental illnesses		Treatment of mental disorders	Theory
Animals as surgical models	The use of animals as surgical models	Vivisection	Tool
Animal remedies	Remedies prepared from animals	Traditional Chinese medicine § Animal substances	Tool
Bandages	The method of bandaging wounds	Bandage	Tool
Dedicated hospitals		Hospital	Tool
Forceps		Forceps	Tool
Herbal remedies	Herbal remedies	Herbalism	Tool
Mineral remedies	Mineral remedies	List of traditional Chinese medicines § Minerals	Tool
Mud bags as surgical models	The use of mud bags as surgical models	Surgical planning	Tool
Needles	The construction and use of surgical needles	Surgical suture § Needles	Tool
Orthopedic cast		Orthopedic cast	Tool
Plants as surgical models		Surgical planning	Tool
Scalpel		Scalpel	Tool
Surgical scissors		Surgical scissors	Tool
Traction bench		Hippocratic bench	Tool

Naturalist

Topic	Description	Wikipedia link	Subdivision
Dissection	The dissection of creatures	Dissection	Method
Anatomy	The anatomical study of creatures	Anatomy	Observation
Embryology	The embriological development of creatures	Embryology	Observation
Foraging behavior	The foraging behavior and diet of creatures	Foraging	Observation
Migration	The migratory patterns of creatures	Animal migration	Observation
Reproductive behavior	The reproductive behavior of creatures	Reproduction	Observation
Social behavior	The social behavior of creatures	Social behavior	Observation
Veterinary medicine	The diseases of creatures	Veterinary medicine	Observation
Climactic adaptation	The way that creatures are suited to the climates in which they live	Climatic adaptation	Theory
Comparative anatomy		Comparative anatomy	Theory
Food chain		Food chain	Theory
Physical taxonomy	The classification of creatures by their physical features	Aristotle's biology § Classification	Theory
Struggle for existence	The struggle for survival among creatures	Struggle for existence	Theory

Philosophy

Topic	Description	Wikipedia link	Subdivision
Nature of beauty	Discourse on the nature of beauty	Beauty (ancient thought)	Aesthetics
Value of art	Discourse on the value of art	Aesthetics	Aesthetics
Belief	Discourse on the nature of belief	Epistemology § Belief	Epistemology
Justification	Discourse on the nature of justification	Epistemology § Justification	Epistemology
Perception	Discourse on the nature of perception	Philosophy of perception	Epistemology
Truth	Discourse on the nature of truth	Epistemology § Truth	Epistemology
Individual value	Discourse on the meaning of individual happiness	Value (ethics) § Personal values	Ethics
State consequentialism	Discourse on ethics as it regards the benefit of the state	State consequentialism	Ethics
Interpersonal ethics	Discourse on ethics as applied to interpersonal conduct	Value (ethics) § Cultural values	Ethics (applied)
Medical	Discourse on medical ethics	Medical ethics	Ethics (applied)
Military	Discourse on ethics as applied to war	Ethics § Military ethics	Ethics (applied)
Analogical inference		Argument from analogy	Logic
Deductive reasoning	Deductive reasoning	Deductive reasoning	Logic
Dialectic reasoning		Dialectic	Logic
Direct inference		Statistical syllogism	Logic
Formal reasoning	Formal reasoning	Reason	Logic
Hypothetical syllogisms	Hypothetical syllogisms	Hypothetical syllogism	Logic
Inductive reasoning		Inductive reasoning	Logic
Propositional logic		Propositional calculus	Logic
Syllogistic logic	Syllogistic logic	Syllogism	Logic
Causation	The nature of causation	Causality	Metaphysics
Events	Discourse on the nature of events	Event (philosophy)	Metaphysics
Existence		Existence	Metaphysics
Mind body	Discourse on the nature of mind and body	Mind–body problem	Metaphysics
Objects and properties		Essence	Metaphysics
Processes		Process philosophy	Metaphysics
Time	Discourse on the nature of time	Time	Metaphysics
Wholes and parts	The relationship between wholes and parts	Mereology	Metaphysics
Education	Education, its forms and recommendations	Education	Specialized
Law	Discourse on law	Law	Specialized
Dictionary	Dictionaries	Dictionary	Specialized (language)
Etymology	The notion of etymology	Etymology	Specialized (language)
Grammar	Grammar	Grammar	Specialized (language)
Diplomacy	Discourse on diplomacy	Diplomacy	Specialized (politics)
Economic policy	Discourse on economic policy	Economic policy	Specialized (politics)
Government forms	Discourse on government	Government	Specialized (politics)
Social welfare	Discourse on social welfare	Welfare	Specialized (politics)
Value agendas	The philosopher will choose a belief that they have and write about the "worthlessness/nuances/value of (belief)". Reading these books will result in a dwarf's (or adventurer's) values changing. ^[1] ^[2]	Propaganda	n/a