I click to purchase environment research: the money is deducted for the cost of the product but i only get 1/4 of a red bar on the progress bar and the purchase is never completed. I have left the computer on and even waited upto 8 hours to later see that there was no further progress.

any advice please.

The research does take some time, and how long it will take depends upon the game speed setting. You can check your game speed setting from Menu/Options.

The game also depends upon an accurate system clock in your computer, so make sure that there isn't anything affecting the computer's system clock.

Oh wow! Thanks, that was HUGE help. You were right, as soon as I un-stopped the time it started to load. Thank you so much.