Antagonism in research refers to the activity or capability of a substance to block or inhibit the effects of another substance. This can occur in various biological systems, such as in pharmacology where antagonists are drugs that bind to receptors without activating them, thereby blocking the actions of agonists. Antagonism is also important in studies of interactions between organisms, such as predator-prey relationships or competition for resources. Understanding antagonism is crucial in many fields of research, including medicine, ecology, and molecular biology.