Data Miner

Data Miner is a late-game building that automatically manufactures Data Banks when supplied with power, allowing colonies to produce them without a duplicant continuously operating the process. It is the main renewable production source for Data Banks once the colony has access to the necessary infrastructure, alongside the Orbital Data Collection Lab.

The building converts Plastic into Data Banks at a rate of 5 kg of Plastic per 1 Data Bank. Although the input is Plastic, the resulting Data Bank item itself is made of Genetic Ooze. This makes Data Miner especially useful for turning excess Plastic into a resource that remains relevant far into the late game.

Data Banks are not just research items. They are also used to program Robo-Pilot Modules, so colonies that rely on rockets can spend a substantial number of them outside of science progression. In the DLC, Data Banks are also consumed by the Virtual Planetarium, where a duplicant with the appropriate skill can convert them directly into Data Analysis Research points at a 1:1 ratio.

Practical notes:

• Data Miner is a renewable source of Data Banks and is especially valuable once exploration and rocket infrastructure begin to outpace the colony’s natural stockpile.
• It is power-hungry, so its operating cost should be accounted for before committing to large-scale production.
• Because Data Banks can also be found from ruins, geysers, artifacts, and space POIs, the number a colony needs to produce with Data Miner is often lower than the total required by late-game research.
• Completing all Stellar research requires 1730 Data Banks, equal to 8650 kg of Plastic if fully manufactured, though normal exploration usually provides a significant free supply.

The label on the Data Bank item is a small piece of trivia: the original “Fun Game” text is crossed out and replaced with “Space Research.”