Curio chain

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  bubble illustrations

Inspiration

I’ve always loved the feeling of falling down a curiosity rabbit hole—how one idea leads to another in unexpected ways. But traditional search engines don’t support that kind of exploration. I built CurioChain to make learning feel like discovery again: interactive, visual, and driven by curiosity.

What it does

CurioChain takes a topic I’m curious about and instantly turns it into an interactive web of related concepts. Each node links to short summaries and deep dives, letting me explore ideas in a structured yet serendipitous way. It’s a new way to learn—less linear, more exploratory.

How we built it

I used React + TypeScript for the frontend, with Tailwind CSS for styling. To visualize the concept graph, I implemented D3.js (react-d3-tree), and used Axios to connect with the Perplexity Sonar API.

Challenges we ran into

I faced several challenges: Understanding and working within the structure of the Sonar API Designing an intuitive way to visualize complex topic relationships Ensuring performance didn’t lag as the graph expanded Keeping the interface clean while delivering meaningful content

Accomplishments that we're proud of

I’m proud that I brought this idea to life from scratch within a limited timeframe. I built a responsive, visually appealing product that makes learning engaging. Most of all, I created something I would actually use myself to explore and learn.

What we learned

I learned how to work with knowledge APIs, structure dynamic data into visual elements, and balance technical implementation with user experience. I also learned that even complex educational tools can feel light and fun if designed thoughtfully.

What's next for Curio chain

I want to keep building on this. Next steps include:

Letting users save and revisit their learning journeys Adding difficulty levels and thematic filters Making multi-topic chains possible Enabling social sharing and collaborative learning Eventually integrating CurioChain into learning platforms or as a browser extension

Built With

• api
• d3.js
• figma
• javascript
• react
• sonar
• tailwind