1. What was actually demonstrated?
Separate a proposed mechanism from a working component, and a component from a complete system. The language of a headline can compress these stages. Read far enough to identify what the experiment or demonstration actually did.
2. What were the conditions?
Find the environment, inputs, and duration of the test. Controlled conditions can be exactly right for an early experiment. They become a problem only when the conclusion silently expands beyond them.
3. What is the baseline?
A percentage improvement needs a comparison. Ask which previous system was used, whether the conditions were matched, and which tradeoffs were measured. A single favorable metric may leave other parts of the picture unexplored.
4. What remains uncertain?
Look for the next test, replication, or integration step. NASA’s readiness-level approach is one useful reference for thinking about evidence and maturity. Treat this checklist as an editorial reading method, not a score that can certify a product.
What does the evidence show—and what still needs to be tested?
Sources & further reading
NASA · Technology readiness levels ↗An original educational explainer, not a report of hands-on testing. Sources provide background; they do not endorse Nanoirev.
