Free AI-Assisted

Hypothesis Canvas

Map observations to hypotheses and experiments with five typed, color-coded nodes, auto-layout, and one-click PNG/Markdown/JSON export — local-first, no account.

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Key facts

Key facts about Hypothesis Canvas
FactValue
Node typesObservation, Hypothesis, Experiment, Predicted Result, Alternative Explanation — enforced scientific-method structure
OutputsPNG + SVG slide image, Markdown outline, portable JSON canvas file
TemplatesBlank, Single Hypothesis, Competing Hypotheses (ACH-lite with two branches)
Status trackingUntested, Supported, Disproven badges on hypothesis and alternative-explanation nodes
Saved canvasesUp to 20 canvases in browser localStorage with import/export JSON
Runs in browserYes — no install
Account requiredNo
Data privacy100% client-side — canvases stay in your browser unless you export
AI assistantBuilt-in; can apply API input to restore canvas state or generate export outlines

What it does

Brainstorming experiments on whiteboards and sticky notes produces unstructured ideas that never connect cleanly to ELN entries, grant aims, or lab-meeting slides. Generic mind-mapping tools offer free-form boxes but no scientific scaffold, so researchers recreate the same observation → hypothesis → experiment loop manually every time.

Hypothesis Canvas is a browser workspace that enforces the scientific-method reasoning chain with exactly five typed, color-coded node types. Drag nodes on an infinite canvas, connect them with smart relationship labels ("suggests", "tested by", "expects", "challenged by"), and track hypothesis status as evidence evolves. One-click templates seed blank, single-hypothesis, or competing-hypothesis maps so you start structuring ideas in under two minutes.

The workspace has three tabs on one page: Canvas (main editor with palette, inspector, and export), Saved Canvases (browse up to 20 locally stored maps with JSON import), and Export Preview (review the structured Markdown outline before download). Auto-layout reorganizes messy maps into clean left-to-right scientific-flow columns. Export PNG and SVG images for slides, Markdown outlines for grants and manuscripts, or JSON files to share with collaborators.

Why researchers use it

  • Structure ideation before entering anything into Benchling, SciNote, or other ELNs
  • Counter confirmation bias with dedicated Alternative Explanation nodes and nudge prompts
  • Track hypothesis status (Untested, Supported, Disproven) as experiments progress
  • Export publication-ready PNG/SVG figures and grant-ready Markdown outlines in one click
  • Use keyboard shortcuts (Tab for child node, Enter for sibling) for rapid brainstorming
  • Save and reopen up to 20 canvases locally without creating an account

Best for

  • Pre-experiment brainstorming before writing protocols or ELN entries
  • Grant aim development and specific-aims figure planning
  • Lab meeting whiteboard replacement with shareable slide exports
  • Competing-hypotheses reasoning (ACH-lite) with two parallel hypothesis branches
  • Teaching graduate students the observation → hypothesis → experiment reasoning loop

When to use this vs alternatives

Use Hypothesis Canvas when you need structured scientific reasoning maps before formal documentation. Enterprise ELNs like Benchling remain better for compliance, inventory, and long-term experiment records.

What makes it different

Enterprise ELNs like Benchling and SciNote excel at compliance and documentation but are not designed for early-stage ideation. Generic whiteboard tools (Miro, Coggle) lack science-specific node types and weak text export for manuscripts. Hypothesis Canvas sits deliberately before the ELN — typed nodes, alternative-explanation prompts, and dual visual/text export in a zero-account browser tool.

Researchers switch from sticky notes and spreadsheets when they need a repeatable scientific-method scaffold, clean slide exports, and portable JSON sharing without lab-wide onboarding.

How to get started

  1. Open the workspace on the Canvas tab.
  2. Click Load Example to explore a CRISPR screen hypothesis map, or pick a template from the left palette.
  3. Add nodes with the color-coded palette buttons; drag to position and use the → handle to connect nodes.
  4. Select a node to edit title, notes, and status in the right inspector panel.
  5. Click Auto-Layout to organize nodes into scientific-flow columns.
  6. Use the Export dropdown for PNG/SVG, Markdown, or JSON — or switch to Export Preview to copy the outline.

Frequently asked questions

What are the five node types and how do they connect?
Observation (blue) feeds Hypothesis (green) via "suggests". Hypothesis feeds Experiment (orange) via "tested by". Experiment feeds Predicted Result (purple) via "expects" and Alternative Explanation (red) via "challenged by". Edge labels auto-fill but can be edited in the inspector when an edge is selected.
How do keyboard shortcuts work?
With a node selected (and focus not in a text field): Tab creates a connected downstream child node of the appropriate type; Enter creates a sibling node of the same type; Cmd/Ctrl+D duplicates the node; Delete or Backspace removes it.
How does auto-layout arrange nodes?
Auto-layout places nodes in columns by type rank: Observation (left), Hypothesis, Experiment, then Predicted Result and Alternative Explanation (right). Nodes within each column are evenly spaced vertically.
Where are my canvases stored?
The active canvas auto-saves to browser localStorage. Use "Save to library" on the Canvas tab to store up to 20 named canvases on the Saved Canvases tab. Export JSON files for backup or sharing across devices.
What export formats are available?
PNG and SVG images for slides (Arial font, publication color palette), Markdown outline grouped by node type with status badges, and portable JSON containing the full graph structure for re-import.
Can I use an AI agent with Hypothesis Canvas?
Yes. The built-in assistant panel can help structure canvas input or troubleshoot export. External AI agents can call the tool over [API & MCP](/tools/developers) using pepkio_hypothesis-canvas to auto-layout, validate JSON backups, or generate Markdown outlines programmatically.

Client source code & registry

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Last updated . Pepkio builds free lab calculators alongside bioinformatics CRO services.