Real science. Clearly explained.
Trade doomscrolling
for something worthwhile.
PaperFlow brings together scientific research, with clear summaries, context and access to the original study.
From curiosity to understanding.
Scrolling stops at the headline. Here, it goes further.
Psychology
How long does it take to form a habit? A review brought together 20 studies with 2,601 participants.
Two studies reported medians of 59 and 66 days, with large differences between people.
Only four studies reported formation times. This does not establish a universal deadline.
The PaperFlow library.
The library will keep growing with new papers. Start with eight topics, with readings that show their original sources and limitations.
PsychologyReappraisal and distraction eased feelings similarly, but with different patterns of attention2016
PsychologyPeople who found meaning in boring tasks said they felt more motivated2024
PsychologyStudents chose to view more scenes of harm between people2017
PsychologyPeople with a firm opinion chose more texts that supported it2019
NeuroscienceA phone sound slowed responses by about three milliseconds2022
NeurosciencePeople who reached deeper sleep were more likely to find the hidden rule2025
NeuroscienceBefore attention lapsed, slow waves like those in sleep appeared2021
NeuroscienceLearning German for six months was associated with brain changes2024
HealthBy mail or with a nurse, a walking plan added steps a year later2017
HealthA brief supported routine improved mobility tests in older adults2026
HealthReceiving fruits and vegetables improved vitality; receiving a voucher did not2017
HealthOne goal reduced sitting time; another added standing breaks2016
TechnologyExperts and machines recognized faces similarly but made different errors2023
TechnologyA small joystick on the screen distinguished five textures2023
TechnologyWarned in time, people manually checked more when the drone failed2020
TechnologyModels that store summaries reproduced several human memory errors2020
EconomicsA short break: less fatigue, but no improvement in performance2022
EconomicsSugary-drink sales rose overall but fell per person2016
EconomicsWhere resources were more unequal, the shared fund received less2023
EconomicsA memory exercise increased a sales offer, but not a salary offer2018
SocietyRemembering who helped you brought warmth and a wish to give back2017
SocietySimilar applications with another name received a different response2022
SocietyShowing that you helped others brought more yeses to hosting requests2016
SocietyWithout saying a word, their steps already showed whether they hit it off2020
LearningWhen people chose what to practice, they stayed with the same topic2016
LearningPauses in handwriting described writing better than pressure2024
LearningMore correct answers after questions than after rereading2016
LearningA kindergarten program with play and self-regulation: 33% read at a first-grade level, versus 10%2019A growing library, with the source always in view. See the whole library
How it works
You do not need to know where to begin.
Something that sparks your curiosity is enough.
A topic, a question, something still on your mind.
The main idea, the research behind it and its limits.
One reading. More perspective. ↗
Save what interests you. Return to it when another question comes up.
A real example.
This is how reading works in PaperFlow.
Explore the question, the finding and the limit.
An experiment on short videos and remembering planned actions.
60 people completed a task about remembering actions, before and after a ten-minute break.
The TikTok group remembered planned actions less well than the group that rested. Twitter and YouTube did not show that effect.
This was a lab test about remembering planned actions. It does not establish permanent harm and did not test PaperFlow.
Plans
Start with Free and read every complete summary. With Reader, go deeper and review. With Researcher, add more questions and voice conversations.
To discover ideas and understand the essentials of each paper.
Every paper. No ads.
Learn more, quizzes, chat and voice are available through the paid plans.
Notify me at launch
To understand how a conclusion was reached and review what you learned.
Everything in Free, plus:
Includes text chat. Voice conversations are available in Researcher.
Recommended
To keep asking questions and talk about what you read.
Everything in Reader, plus:
Chat and voice allowances renew every month, including with an annual subscription.
Accounts and subscriptions will be available in the app at launch. Paid plans offer monthly and annual options; Apple App Store or Google Play will confirm the price and terms before purchase. Allowances renew each month, including on annual plans. This website lets you read a sample and join the waitlist.
Real questions. Clear answers.
An alternative to doomscrolling, without guilt: papers in plain English to explore an idea, understand the evidence behind it and keep thinking.
Open your first reading ↗Partly, yes, and we do not hide it: PaperFlow is also a feed, and you scroll through it too. The difference is what stays with you when you close it. Instead of doomscrolling, every reading leads to a real study, with its limits and original source in view. We do not ask you to use your phone less or measure your screen time.
PaperFlow is an alternative to doomscrolling: a feed of research explained in plain English for curious people. Each reading connects an idea with the study's question, findings and limitations, with access to the original source.
Start with a topic or question that interests you. The reading separates what was investigated, what was found and what cannot yet be claimed. You can open the original source to keep exploring.
You do not need prior knowledge to read the sample. Ideas are explained in plain language and with context, without assuming you already know the study's terminology.
The reading is an introduction to the study. It summarizes its question, findings and limitations, and keeps the source in view so you can check the full methods and details.
Free includes the complete summary, key idea and Something to think about when present for every paper, saved readings and the original source, without ads. Reader adds Learn more, editorial evidence, quizzes with explanations and 20 chat responses per month, without voice. Researcher includes everything in Reader, with 75 chat responses and 15 voice minutes per month. Accounts will be available in the app at launch; this website lets you read a sample and join the waitlist.
You can explore the open paper library by topic, search for a reading and consult its original study. You can also try the habit-formation sample and its question, finding and limit tabs. You do not need to sign up to read the public library.
Real science. Clearly explained.
Hear when we launch and receive a special benefit for the Reader plan.
Research, without the noise.
