Science Articles on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog

SkyLight combines iPhones and microscopes

by Kelly Hodgkins (Feb 6th, 2012)

We've seen lots of photo accessories that let you add filters and lenses to your iPhone, but SkyLight is the first to let you add a full-fledged microscope. It's a platform that attaches to a microscope and aligns the phone's camera with the eyepiece. You can view the microscope image on your ...

Scosche's RDTX-PRO for iPhone and iPod touch detects radiation

by Steven Sande (Aug 31st, 2011)

Scosche Industries produces a wide line of accessories for Apple products, ranging from iPad cases and flexible keyboards to screen cleaners and headphones. Now the company has developed and is selling the RDTX-PRO Radiation Detector and app for the iPhone and iPod touch. Primarily designed ...

Papers 2 and Papers for the iPad: the ultimate journal reading combination

by Samuel Gibbs (Aug 28th, 2011)

It's that time of year again: time to head back to college, grab those books and kickstart the academic term. This year, why not cut out paper from your scientific journal research workflow with the ultimate in journal management and reading for the Mac and iPad? Management Papers 2 takes ...

Daily iPad App: NASA Visualization Explorer

by Kelly Hodgkins (Aug 8th, 2011)

The NASA Visualization app is your window into the world of NASA research. The app presents the latest NASA research news in an easy-to-digest format. Each article is written for the lay person and amateur scientist with images and video to complement the writing. Topics range from space-based ...

Daily iPad App: HowStuffWorks for iPad

by Kelly Hodgkins (Aug 4th, 2011)

If you love learning the details that explain how things work, then the HowStuffWorks app for the iPad is perfect for you. The app takes the best of the How Stuff Works website and packages it into a convenient, tablet-friendly format. It's chock full of content and features and will keep you ...

Scientific study shows internet use changes human memory

by Chris Rawson (Jul 18th, 2011)

The internet has fundamentally affected the way people access and store information, and many people (myself included) have wondered if it's also changing the way our minds work. According to the New York Times, a recently published scientific paper shows that we are indeed changing the way we ...

Use your iPhone to detect cataracts

by Mike Schramm (Jul 8th, 2011)

A group of researchers at MIT have built a surprisingly useful medical addon for the iPhone that apparently can help detect cataracts. The CATRA system is a device that snaps on to the front of the iPhone (or any computer screen, from the look of it), and then uses screen output to monitor and ...

Seven free iOS apps to help you out in the lab

by Samuel Gibbs (Apr 18th, 2011)

There are apps for converting between weights, volumes and areas, for converting currency and even to calculate your split of the tip at a bar; but what about apps for scientists? An iOS device, like an iPhone, is almost constantly on your person, so why not get some apps for helping you out in ...

Pocket Universe updated with iPhone 4 gyro support

by Mel Martin (Aug 1st, 2010)

Pocket Universe has always been one of the best of the astronomy apps, and I reviewed the earlier version positively. I like the use of augmented reality to overlay a star chart on the real sky, and there are lots of features like astronomy news, a planning module for any particular night, and quick ...

The science behind the iPhone 4's antennas

by Mike Schramm (Jun 25th, 2010)

The iPhone 4's outer ring of antennas has been earning some grief lately as some owners have found that reception can change even based on where your hand is placed. Even Steve has weighed in on this issue via his itchy email finger. Spencer Webb of AntennaSys (an "antenna design" firm) knows the ...

Carry the Moon in your pocket with this free iPhone app

by Mel Martin (Feb 24th, 2010)

Last week I was pleased to suggest some free astronomy programs of interest to star-gazers. This week, I'm at it again hoping that space or science buffs get a look at Moon Globe. This very handy app gives you a complete map of our nearest space neighbor, showing you what is visible on any night ...

Keep your eyes on the Sun safely with free 3D Sun app

by Mel Martin (Feb 18th, 2010)

I really love to find cool, free apps, and I have a good one for you. 3D Sun, developed in collaboration with NASA scientists, will alert you to solar flares and storms which can disrupt communications on earth and trigger spectacular northern lights. Activating the push feature provides instant ...

Want to argue about Global Warming? There's an app for that

by Mel Martin (Feb 13th, 2010)

I'm not sympathetic to the Global Warming skeptics. There's plenty of scientific evidence to contradict them. The trouble is, when you get into arguments about the subject, you're likely to be without facts and the arguments become emotional rather than rational. Now, at least, you'll have some ...

Grand Tour for the iPhone is a grand exploration of the solar system

by Mel Martin (Apr 6th, 2009)

I admit I have a real love for astronomy and other science apps. Mike Smithwick, the creator of Distant Suns [App Store link] has come up with another winner for the space minded. Grand Tour [App Store link] is a $4.99US application that will let you tour the solar system in very smooth and ...

Apple launches Science Productivity Lab

by Scott McNulty (Jul 1st, 2008)

Apple has just added a new section to the Science portion of its website (you did know Apple's website has a section devoted to science, right?). The Science Productivity Lab includes a number of video tutorials aimed at helping researchers and scientists use their Macs to share their work. Most of ...