1. An electronic interface for a scientific database query system permitting retrieval from a database of scientific documents having text and associated figures, the figures described at least in part by text, the electronic interface comprising: an electronic computer executing a stored program to: (a) receive from the database at least one document selected from the database based on a text query from a human operator; and (b) review the text of the document and the associated figures to provide a ranking of the figures independent from an ordering of the figures in the document and according to an automated determination of an importance of the figure with respect to a subject matter of the document derived from the text of the document.