Literature Review Agent
Ar9av/PaperOrchestra
Step 3 of the PaperOrchestra pipeline (arXiv:2604.05018). An agent skill from Ar9av/PaperOrchestra.
AI-powered web search via Exa with content extraction. An agent skill from AI4Scientist/nano-scientist.
Install Exa Search
$ npx skills add AI4Scientist/nano-scientist --skill exa-search -a claude-codeProject install by default; add -g for ~/.claude/skills/.
$ gh skill install AI4Scientist/nano-scientist exa-search --agent claude-codeProject scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/AI4Scientist/nano-scientist.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/exa-search .claude/skills/exa-search && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.claude/skills/ instead of .claude/skills for a personal install. The folder must contain SKILL.md.
Claude Code skills documentation · loads skills from .claude/skills/
Install the "exa-search" agent skill from https://github.com/AI4Scientist/nano-scientist/tree/main/skills/exa-search into .claude/skills/exa-search/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "exa-search", then confirm the skill loads.Claude Code copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$skill-installer install https://github.com/AI4Scientist/nano-scientist/tree/main/skills/exa-searchType this inside Codex. $skill-installer <name> installs a curated skill from openai/skills. The installer writes to $CODEX_HOME/skills (default ~/.codex/skills). Restart Codex if the skill does not show up.
$ npx skills add AI4Scientist/nano-scientist --skill exa-search -a codexProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.codex/skills/.
$ gh skill install AI4Scientist/nano-scientist exa-search --agent codexProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/AI4Scientist/nano-scientist.git skills-src && mkdir -p .agents/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/exa-search .agents/skills/exa-search && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.agents/skills/ instead of .agents/skills for a personal install.
Codex skills documentation · loads skills from .agents/skills/
Install the "exa-search" agent skill from https://github.com/AI4Scientist/nano-scientist/tree/main/skills/exa-search into .agents/skills/exa-search/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "exa-search", then confirm the skill loads.Codex copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ npx skills add AI4Scientist/nano-scientist --skill exa-search -a cursorProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.cursor/skills/.
$ gh skill install AI4Scientist/nano-scientist exa-search --agent cursorProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/AI4Scientist/nano-scientist.git skills-src && mkdir -p .cursor/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/exa-search .cursor/skills/exa-search && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.cursor/skills/ instead of .cursor/skills for a personal install.
Cursor skills documentation · loads skills from .cursor/skills/, .agents/skills/, .claude/skills/, .codex/skills/
Install the "exa-search" agent skill from https://github.com/AI4Scientist/nano-scientist/tree/main/skills/exa-search into .cursor/skills/exa-search/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "exa-search", then confirm the skill loads.Cursor copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ gemini skills install https://github.com/AI4Scientist/nano-scientist.git --path skills/exa-search--scope user (default) or --scope workspace; --path is the subfolder of the repo that holds the skill; --consent skips the security confirmation prompt.
$ npx skills add AI4Scientist/nano-scientist --skill exa-search -a gemini-cliProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.gemini/skills/.
$ gh skill install AI4Scientist/nano-scientist exa-search --agent gemini-cliProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/AI4Scientist/nano-scientist.git skills-src && mkdir -p .gemini/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/exa-search .gemini/skills/exa-search && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.gemini/skills/ instead of .gemini/skills for a personal install, then run /skills reload.
Gemini CLI skills documentation · loads skills from .gemini/skills/, .agents/skills/
Install the "exa-search" agent skill from https://github.com/AI4Scientist/nano-scientist/tree/main/skills/exa-search into .gemini/skills/exa-search/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "exa-search", then confirm the skill loads.Gemini CLI copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ gh skill install AI4Scientist/nano-scientist exa-searchInstalls for Copilot at project scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Preview a skill first with gh skill preview. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).
$ npx skills add AI4Scientist/nano-scientist --skill exa-search -a github-copilotProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.copilot/skills/.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/AI4Scientist/nano-scientist.git skills-src && mkdir -p .github/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/exa-search .github/skills/exa-search && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.copilot/skills/ instead of .github/skills for a personal install. Commit .github/skills so cloud agent and code review can use it.
GitHub Copilot skills documentation · loads skills from .github/skills/, .claude/skills/, .agents/skills/
Install the "exa-search" agent skill from https://github.com/AI4Scientist/nano-scientist/tree/main/skills/exa-search into .github/skills/exa-search/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "exa-search", then confirm the skill loads.GitHub Copilot copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ npx skills add AI4Scientist/nano-scientist --skill exa-search -a opencodeOpenCode documents no install command of its own. Project install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.config/opencode/skills/.
$ gh skill install AI4Scientist/nano-scientist exa-search --agent opencodeProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/AI4Scientist/nano-scientist.git skills-src && mkdir -p .opencode/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/exa-search .opencode/skills/exa-search && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.config/opencode/skills/ instead of .opencode/skills for a personal install.
OpenCode skills documentation · loads skills from .opencode/skills/, .claude/skills/, .agents/skills/
Install the "exa-search" agent skill from https://github.com/AI4Scientist/nano-scientist/tree/main/skills/exa-search into .opencode/skills/exa-search/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "exa-search", then confirm the skill loads.OpenCode copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
Facts
- Skill name
exa-search- GitHub stars
- 128
- Used in
- 2 other repos
- Token cost
- ~1.8k tokens
- SKILL.md length
- 594 words
- Files
- 1
- Skills in repo
- 74
- Repo updated
- First seen
- Licence
- None found
At a glance
AI-powered web search via Exa with content extraction. An agent skill from AI4Scientist/nano-scientist.
- Works in 6 steps: Parse Arguments → Locate Script → Execute Search → …
- User says exa search
- SKILL.md covers Role & Positioning, Constants, Setup and Workflow, plus 1 more section
- Calls python3, pip and git; reaches arxiv.org; needs EXA_API_KEY
What it does
Exa Search is an agent skill from AI4Scientist/nano-scientist. AI-powered web search via Exa with content extraction. Use when user says "exa search", "web search with content", "find similar pages", or needs broad web results beyond academic databases (arXiv, Semantic Scholar).
Its SKILL.md is about 1.8k tokens, which your agent loads only when the skill is triggered. It is a single SKILL.md file with no bundled scripts.
It sits in Research & Science, covering Academic paper search and Web search. It works with Exa, arXiv and Semantic Scholar. The repository describes itself as: An autonomous research agent that turns a topic into a peer-reviewed technical report.
When your agent uses it
- User says exa search
- Web search with content
- Find similar pages
- Needs broad web results beyond academic databases (arXiv
Example prompts
- “exa search”
- “web search with content”
- “find similar pages”
- “/exa-search”
Requirements
- Python 3
- A credential in EXA_API_KEY
- Pre-approved tools (allowed-tools): Bash(*), Read, Write
Workflow steps
6 steps, taken from the step headings in SKILL.md.
- Parse Arguments
- Locate Script
- Execute Search
- Present Results
- Offer Follow-up
- Update Research Wiki (if active, research-paper results only)
What it can do on your machine
Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit 7132192. It shows what the files ask for, not the result of running them.
Tool permissions
Pre-approves these tools, so the agent can use them without asking each time:
Bash(*)ReadWrite
From allowed-tools in the SKILL.md frontmatter.
Runs code
Shell commands in SKILL.md call:
python3pipgit
From the folder's file list and the shell code blocks in SKILL.md.
Network
Hosts in commands or code, which the agent is likely to contact:
arxiv.org
Also links to:
exa.ai
From URLs in SKILL.md, links to its own repository left out.
Credentials
Names these keys or tokens, usually read from environment variables:
EXA_API_KEY
From names ending in _API_KEY, _TOKEN, _SECRET, _KEY or _PASSWORD in SKILL.md.
Context cost
Exa Search loads about 1.8k tokens when it runs. Until then it costs about 57 tokens; SKILL.md has 594 words of instructions outside code blocks.
Estimates: characters ÷ 4, the usual rule of thumb; real counts depend on the model's tokenizer. Scripts and assets cost tokens only if the agent reads them.
Safety
Auto-check: notes
The automated check noted patterns worth knowing about, such as sudo or a known installer.
- NotePre-approves every shell command (allowed-tools: Bash)SKILL.md
allowed-tools: Bash(*), Read, Write
Automated static check — not a guarantee. Review scripts before installing. It scans the text of SKILL.md for risky patterns (piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files, hidden Unicode, destructive commands); files beside SKILL.md are not scanned.
SKILL.md
Without a licence we can't republish the file, so here is its outline and opening line. It has 594 words (~1,765 tokens).
- name
- exa-search
- allowed-tools
- Bash(*), Read, Write
- argument-hint
- search-query-or-url
Files
Just SKILL.md in skills/exa-search of AI4Scientist/nano-scientist.
Open the folder on GitHubat commit 7132192
Used in 2 other repositories
We found 6 copies of this SKILL.md (exact, near-identical or edited) in other folders, from 2 other GitHub owners. This page covers the copy in AI4Scientist/nano-scientist, which our catalogue first saw on October 7, 2026.
Compare with similar skills
Exa Search next to the 5 skills that share the most tags, products or categories with it. Stars are the repository's; “used in” counts other GitHub owners with a copy.
| Skill | Stars | Used in | Tokens | Auto-check | Licence | Repo updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exa Search this skillAI4Scientist/nano-scientist | 128 | 2 repos | ~1.8k | Automated safety check: Notes | None | |
| Literature Review AgentAr9av/PaperOrchestra | 679 | 1 repos | ~5.2k | Automated safety check: Pass | Custom licence | |
| Scientific Figuregaasher/Agent-Loop-Skills | 174 | — | ~3.8k | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| Literature Searchgaasher/Agent-Loop-Skills | 174 | — | ~1.5k | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| Local Search Fallbacktaxueseek/argo | 188 | — | ~949 | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| Literature Reviewneflibata-feng/MyArxiv-Agent | 126 | 20 repos | ~5.9k | Automated safety check: Notes | MIT |
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Related
Works with
Categories
Questions about Exa Search
What does Exa Search do?
AI-powered web search via Exa with content extraction. An agent skill from AI4Scientist/nano-scientist. Exa Search is an agent skill from AI4Scientist/nano-scientist. AI-powered web search via Exa with content extraction.
When should I use Exa Search?
Exa Search fits situations like: user says exa search; web search with content; find similar pages; needs broad web results beyond academic databases (arXiv.
How do I install Exa Search in Claude Code?
Run `npx skills add AI4Scientist/nano-scientist --skill exa-search -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (skills/exa-search in AI4Scientist/nano-scientist) into .claude/skills/exa-search in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.
How do I install Exa Search in Codex?
Run `npx skills add AI4Scientist/nano-scientist --skill exa-search -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (skills/exa-search in AI4Scientist/nano-scientist) into .agents/skills/exa-search in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.
Can I use Exa Search in Cursor, Gemini CLI or GitHub Copilot?
Cursor, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot and OpenCode also load SKILL.md folders. With the skills CLI, run `npx skills add AI4Scientist/nano-scientist --skill exa-search -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/exa-search, .gemini/skills/exa-search, .github/skills/exa-search and .opencode/skills/exa-search in your project.
What does Exa Search need to run?
Going by SKILL.md and its folder, Exa Search needs the command-line tools its instructions call (python3, pip and git) and credentials named EXA_API_KEY. Our summary lists: Python 3; A credential in EXA_API_KEY. Its frontmatter pre-approves these tools: Bash(*), Read, Write.
Does Exa Search access the network?
SKILL.md names 2 domains. In commands or code: arxiv.org; the agent is likely to contact it when it follows the instructions. As links in the text: exa.ai. This is read from the text; nothing was executed.
Is Exa Search safe to install?
Our automated static check of SKILL.md found notes only (pre-approves every shell command (allowed-tools: bash)), nothing it rates as a warning. It is not a guarantee. Review the folder before installing.
What licence does Exa Search use?
No licence was found for Exa Search or its repository. Without one, default copyright applies: ask the author before reusing or redistributing it.
How many tokens does Exa Search use?
About 1.8k tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 7.1k characters). Agents keep only the skill's name and description in context until a task matches; then they load SKILL.md in full.
What are the alternatives to Exa Search?
Skills that share tags, products or a category with Exa Search: Literature Review Agent (Ar9av/PaperOrchestra, 679 stars), Scientific Figure (gaasher/Agent-Loop-Skills, 174 stars), Literature Search (gaasher/Agent-Loop-Skills, 174 stars) and Local Search Fallback (taxueseek/argo, 188 stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.
Who maintains Exa Search?
AI4Scientist (a GitHub organization) maintains it in AI4Scientist/nano-scientist, which has 128 GitHub stars. The repository holds 74 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on June 3, 2026.
Source: AI4Scientist/nano-scientist on GitHub. Facts on this page come from the repository at the commit we read; the author's words are quoted as theirs.