3D Sun, one of the free apps from NASA
A growing number of apps – mobile phone applications – are a great way of exploring science, from the solar system to sub-atomic particles.
Science teacher Humphrey Jones from St Columba’s College in Dublin, who runs the excellent Frogblog.ie website, gave a good round-up of these apps in a recent Irish Times article.
Many of the apps are free or cost just a nominal sum, and here is his “top ten”:
- Pocket Heart (iPhone, iPad, Android) – explore the workings of the human heart using 3D animation
- The Chemical Touch (iPhone, iPad) – an interactive periodic table
- Mitosis (iPhone) – learn about cell division
- Planets (iPhone, iPad) – explore the night sky
- Science Glossary (iPhone) – dictionary of science terms with short biographies of famous scientists
- Celeste (Android) – more for astronomy fans
- Sciencepal (Android) – a set of science apps including another interactive periodic table and the Solar System
- Touch Physics (iPhone) – solve puzzles using your knowledge of the laws of physics
- Hubble (iPhone) – photos and more from the Hubble space telescope
- Speed Anatomy (iPhone) – a quick test of your knowledge of the human body
Apps from NASA
Many science organisations are also doing their own apps nowadays. For example, NASA has several free iPhone apps, including 3D Sun. This lets you follow solar activity via data from the space agency’s “STEREO” satellites.
Its Space Images app also has stunning images (from its Jet Propulsion Laboratory) of other stars and planets – including Earth.
Learn more
Read Humphrey Jones’s article in the Irish Times about science apps
Find out more about NASA’s apps
See how there are already plenty of science-related apps for the new Apple iPad
