Claude Science

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10-16-26: Claude Science is initially rolling out to a pilot group, with larger deployment to come later 

Claude Science is an AI workbench app from Anthropic built for researchers. It pairs Claude with an analysis environment on your computer. Claude can write and run Python, R, and shell code, search scientific databases and literature, and create figures and documents that keep a full record of how they were made. This article explains what Claude Science does, how it is being rolled out at Dartmouth, and how to install it. 

What Is Claude Science?

Claude Science is a desktop app, currently in beta, that you install separately from the Claude desktop app. It is not a new AI model. It uses the same Claude models included with your Dartmouth Claude account. It opens in a web browser tab, but it runs locally on your computer. You approve each new folder, website, and remote job before Claude can use it. Claude Science works for life sciences research as well as for other fields, including computer science, engineering, physics, mathematics, and the social sciences.

Key Features

  • Reproducible results: Every figure, table, and notebook includes the exact code, environment, plain-language summary, and conversation that produced it.
  • Built-in scientific viewers: View 3D protein structures, genomic tracks, chemical structures, sequence alignments, and PDFs with no extra software.
  • Background reviewer: Flags incorrect citations, numbers it can't trace to evidence, and figures that don't match their code.
  • Plain-language figure edits: Annotate a figure or ask for a change, such as removing gridlines or switching to a log scale, and Claude updates the code.
  • Manuscript drafting: Write up results next to the analysis, with Markdown and LaTeX previews.
  • Persistent Python and R sessions: Data and variables stay loaded throughout an analysis, so you don't have to reload large datasets.
  • Scientific database connectors: Query 60+ scientific databases and scholarly literature. Connectors come pre-configured for genomics, single-cell, proteomics, structural biology, and cheminformatics.

Requirements

  • A Dartmouth Claude account with Claude Science access enabled. See Requesting Access below.
  • macOS 13 or later (Apple silicon or Intel), Windows 11 (x64), or Linux x64 on a glibc-based distribution.
  • About 5 GB of free disk space.
  • Linux only: socat, bubblewrap 0.8.0 or later, and unprivileged user namespaces enabled.

Requesting Access

Claude Science is rolling out at Dartmouth in phases, starting with an initial pilot group of faculty and staff members. This article will be updated with instructions to request access when it ready for deployment.

Installing Claude Science

The first launch can take several minutes while Claude Science sets up its Python and R environments and scientific connectors.

macOS

  1. Go to claude.com/product/claude-science and download the Mac installer for your computer (Apple Silicon or Intel).
  2. Double-click the installer to install the app.
  3. Open Claude Science from the applications folder. The app opens in a browser tab.
  4. Sign in with your Dartmouth Claude account.
  5. Follow the setup wizard to enable connectors and skills and to choose which websites Claude can access.

Windows

  1. Go to claude.com/product/claude-science and download the Windows installer.
  2. Open the installer and follow the prompts.
  3. Sign in with your Dartmouth Claude account.
  4. Follow the setup wizard to enable connectors and skills and to choose which websites Claude can access.

Linux

  1. Install the required dependencies. On Ubuntu or Debian, run sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y curl bubblewrap socat. On Fedora or RHEL, run sudo dnf install -y curl bubblewrap socat.
  2. Run bwrap --version to confirm bubblewrap is version 0.8.0 or later. Ubuntu 22.04's version is too old, so use Ubuntu 24.04 or later.
  3. Install Claude Science by running curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install-claude-science.sh | bash.
  4. Start the app by running claude-science serve. The app opens in your browser.
  5. Sign in with your Dartmouth Claude account and complete the setup wizard.

Things to Know

  • Always verify results: Claude can make mistakes. The reviewer reduces errors but doesn't eliminate them. Claude Science is a research tool and is not intended for clinical or diagnostic use.
  • Your data: Projects and raw datasets are stored locally, but information Claude reads or uses during a conversation may be sent to Anthropic for processing. Follow Dartmouth’s data classification guidelines before granting access to sensitive data.
  • Shared usage limits: Claude Science usage counts toward the same limits as Claude chat, Cowork, and Claude Code. Check Settings > Usage in Claude to see your usage.
  • Dartmouth configuration: Remote compute over SSH and custom connectors are turned off. Claude can reach only websites approved by Dartmouth.
  • Beta software: Features and behavior may change as Anthropic updates the app.

Troubleshooting

  • Sign-in stops at claude.ai: Claude Science may not be enabled for your account. During the pilot, access is limited to members of the pilot group.
  • Can't find the app in a browser: Claude Science is a local app, not a website. Open it from the applications folder or the claude-science command on Linux. On Linux, run claude-science url to get a fresh link.
  • Linux won't start: bubblewrap or socat is missing, out of date, or blocked. Reinstall them as shown above and check the bubblewrap version.

External Resources

See Related Articles to the right for more information.

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