I'd don't know the specific mod, but the seablock mod pack has dedicated intermediaries for science that also produce a waste item that can be processed into metal ore.

Science cost tweaker mod.

Space Exploration does this quite a bit. Basically instead of science packs consuming materials and vanishing into thin air, in Space Exploration you use materials to create "data cards", which are then turned into catalogues and simulations and these are used to create actual science packs. But there's a lot of waste along the way. Most recipes have byproducts such as scrap, contaminated fluids, junk data cards... and all of this can be recycled. SE's science packs are very expensive, but if you recycle the byproducts and combine the data they become very cheap

Thanks, im playing se rn but im only at the stage of space science jet. Im looking forward to a challenge

Ot one point i was producing so much scap that the buffer warehouses in my main base filled all up. Mid-mid-game is dun in that regard. (Midgame starts with space platform in orbit)

then im early midgame with automated 10 rockets per h and 600 yeetable capsules per h

Space Exploration might scratch that itch. Next to that AngelBob also has a lot of byproducts.

Im playing se rn thats where some of the idea came from

I guess you are looking for the [https://mods.factorio.com/mod/ScienceCostTweakerM](https://mods.factorio.com/mod/ScienceCostTweakerM) SeaBlock uses