6 apps to get scientific
Explore the natural science of the outside world
This time of year is great to head outdoors, not just for the fresh air, but also to explore your (or your kids’) curiosity and scientific acumen. Maybe that just takes the form of wanting to know what birds and plants you’re looking at, or maybe you actually want to try putting together some scientific notes over time and take readings that you can create a real study from. Our suite of apps has everything you need to learn more about the outdoors, from what you’ll find on the ground to what you’ll see in the sky. As long as you’ve got an interest in the world around you, these apps will help you make the most of it.
Science Journal by GooGle Free Made for iPhone, iPad
For budding amateur scientists, this app is the ideal combination of scientific instruments (using your iOS device’s sensors), plus a journal to record notes. You can make new entries with written notes, pictures and more; or you can record data for noise levels, light, air pressure and more, on graphs within the app. A great tool to easily create and test hypotheses about the environment.
niGht Sky Free Made for iPhone, iPad
See the stars in more detail than ever with this augmented reality app. Just point your device at a part of the sky, and it’ll tell you what you’re looking at: from constellations, to planets, to human– made satellites. It will show you the path that travelling objects will take across the sky (so you can tell where to look for the ISS, say), and you can find out more about what you see, including 3D models.
PicturethiS — Plant identiFier Free Made for iPhone, iPad
When you’re out on a walk and curious about what an unusual plant is, you can take a picture in this app and AI will get to work identifying it, giving you a result in seconds. It’ll tell you about the flower itself, and give you care information for house plants. You can use it free for seven days on a trial; after that, you need to pay a yearly or weekly subscription.
INSECT IDENTIFICATION $4.99 Made for iPhone, iPad
Another AI–based app that can identify things from images, this one is made to help you identify bugs. It can be harder to get perfect results, because it’s not always easy to get a clear snap of an insect, but if you see something odd or beautiful and want to find out what it is (with some extra scientific information) and document it, make sure you’ve got this app to hand during your adventures.
MERLIN BIRD ID BY CORNELL LAB Free Made for iPhone, iPad
Spotted an unknown bird? Answer just five questions about it in this app and you’ll get the answer, based on the info you gave it and other data such as your location. You can also upload a pic for identification. The app will tell you about the bird, let you hear its call, and see its population patterns. It makes ornithology much easier to do than it is to spell.
WOLFRAMALPHA $2.99 Made for iPhone, iPad
An essential companion for any scientist. It’s full of useful information about nature, science, and math that you can use to explore ideas. Want to know the average temperature in New Jersey in March 1997, or how fast swallows fly? Just ask the question in this app. It’ll give you the answer, and even some extra information such as unit conversions, or comparisons to similar things.