something about an unknown "?"

I edited line 130 of 017_science_0.0.12\data-updates.lua to:
if tech and valid == true then
(tech.unit should be tech)

Fixed for 0.0.13 (hopefully, i'm not sure what mod causes that issue).
Ignores the technology if unit is not present
Let me know if it happens in the next version

I'm still getting an error on line 162 of data-updates.lue :Attempt to index field '?' (a nil value)

Can you tell me what mods you're using? can't replicate this or the previous error in vanilla

A lot, I'm afraid, over 200. I was having no issue with 0.0.11 is all I know.

okay, releasing 0.0.14. see if that fixes it. if that doesn't work, there is a switch to disable the tech-tree and revert it to the old versions (this doesn't use the tech tree script which is causing these issues).

Same crash on load. Works fine if I go into the settings.lue and set the flag to false.
Here's my modlist even though I'm sure it won't help since it has so much. https://i.ibb.co/GtJFdMN/image.png

Just confirmed that OP's issue is fixed (tested in an AB + AAI modpack)
added some more checks. hopefully it will be more robust. (I cannot replicate the latter issue by creating a tech with nil effects.) 0.0.15

Not fixd here. lua 94, ttempint to index field "science-pack-3" ( a nul value) in data-updates.lua

whoops, forgot to account for the enable-old-science opt.
fixed for 0.0.16
EDIT: release pushed