This report discusses the potentials and limitations of advanced bibliometric (literature-data based) methods to explore the developments of an important research field — materials science. The central issue is an attempt to create analytical tools for monitoring rapid and possibly important developments in this field. The bibliometric search algorithm reveals a substantial part of the emerging topics within materials science. The bibliometric maps allow a useful visualization of the major relational features of the field. This study shows the feasibility of a powerful bibliometric information system for monitoring recent developments in science.