The first step in any research project in science is to find out what has already been done. Scientists tell other scientists about their discoveries by writing journal articles. A scientific journal article will explain what you wanted to do (your aims), what you actually did (your methods), what you found (your results), and then what you think this means (your discussion). 

Before starting a project or doing any experiments, it is important to read all the journal articles that relate to what you are studying. Otherwise you might accidentally spend a long time doing experiments that have already been done! It is also a great way of finding out where the gaps in our knowledge are, and what experiments or research would be most useful to fill those gaps. 

Before the internet was so widespread, scientists would have to go to the library and find hard copy journal articles to read. These days almost everything Mustard and I will need is online. The University has an online library, and there are databases where you can search for a topic (such as the name of the wasp we are studying) and it will find all the journal articles about the topic for you. 

The internet has made it much easier for scientists to read and keep up to date with what other scientists in their field are doing!