What's the most important thing to research?

[Spoo]

I always try to max out the DUC tree first. Then shields to level 5.
I also try to make sure my current hull size is no more than on level behind the AI.

On a side note, I turn off "divide points evenly" in the research menu, and let a colonization tech be my second project so it can soak up any excess points on the turn my primary project completes.

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Assume you have a 1kg squirrel
E=mc^2
E=1kg(3x10^8m/s)^2=9x10^16J
which, if I'm not mistaken, is equivilent to roughly a 50 megaton nuclear bomb.
Fear the squirrel.