research-topic

name	research-topic
description	Research a topic deeply. Searches the vault for existing knowledge, then the web, synthesizes findings into a resource note in Notes/. Use when the user says 'research', 'look into', 'find out about', 'what do we know about', or 'investigate'.
argument-hint	[topic or question]
context	fork
agent	researcher

Research: $ARGUMENTS

Existing vault knowledge

!obsidian search query="$ARGUMENTS" vault="{{VAULT_NAME}}" limit=5 2>/dev/null || echo "(Could not search vault — Obsidian may not be running. Use Grep/Glob to search files directly.)"

Your task

Research $ARGUMENTS thoroughly following your research workflow:

1. Vault first — Read any existing notes found above. Also use mcp__qmd__query to find semantically related content beyond keyword matches (see the qmd rule for query construction patterns). Understand what we already know before going external.

2. Web research — Use WebSearch to find current, authoritative information. Search from multiple angles:

   • Core facts and definitions
   • Recent developments
   • Expert perspectives
   • Practical applications Use WebFetch to deep-read the 2-3 most valuable sources.

3. Synthesize — Combine vault knowledge with new findings. Identify what's new, where sources agree/disagree, and what gaps remain.

4. Create resource note — Write a well-structured note in Notes/ with:

   • Full frontmatter (categories: ["[[Research]]"], areas, status: active, tags, created)
   • Clear headings and sections
   • Source citations
   • Wikilinks to related vault notes throughout
   • Confidence levels where appropriate

5. Link it — Verify categories and areas properties place the note in the correct Bases views. Connect to related existing notes.

6. Commit — Commit the new note and any modified files to git.

Quality standards

• Cite your sources — include URLs or clear references
• Distinguish established facts from opinions or speculation
• Note confidence levels (well-established vs. emerging vs. uncertain)
• Flag knowledge gaps that merit future research
• Be thorough but concise — depth where it matters, brevity where it doesn't

Output

Return:

• Key takeaways (3-5 bullets)
• Created note path in the vault
• Related notes that were linked
• Suggestions for further exploration