Science Articles on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog

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 ...

MIT uses Macs to learn how children gain speech skills

by Mike Schramm (May 2nd, 2008)

Apple's Science page has a profile up for the folks over at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology -- apparently two MITers, Deb Roy and Rupal Patel, are using Macs, including "five Apple Xserves and a 4.4TB Xserve RAID," to record and track every single moment of their son's early childhood. ...

Charge an iPod with an onion

by Mike Schramm (Nov 14th, 2007)

I think we somehow missed this at TUAW, but I have no idea how. Just in time for everyone to head home for the holidays (and forget their iPod chargers), here's a quick fix solution to get that battery back up and you back listening to The Cars' Greatest Hits. Household Hacker put this together, ...

BOINC client lets Mac users contribute cycles

by Michael Rose (Mar 5th, 2007)

If you encountered a labful or officeful of Macs in the early 2000s, chances are good that a bunch of them were running SETI@Home, the 'contributed computing' project to search through radioastronomy signals for the telltale signs of an extraterrestrial civilization. While the classic SETI@Home ...

Apple posts 'Mac at Work' site

by David Chartier (Jun 3rd, 2006)

So much for those "Apple isn't interested in the science/business/pro sector" theories. Behold, Mac at Work, a new promotional site from Apple with information, case studies, online seminars and real world event listings for just about every interest and sector besides consumers. Just look at the ...