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The Best Science Apps for the iPhone – July 2018

The Best Science Apps for the iPhone - July 2018

The world of science is wonderful and full of things to know and learn. Whether you like biology, chemistry, anatomy or anything else related to science, there is no shortage of things to know. Even if you aren’t a scientist or a STEM student, that doesn’t mean you don’t want to learn about the wonderful world of science. Thankfully, almost all of us have a device that can help us learn more about science than we ever thought possible, our phones.

And while we often use our smartphones as a way to communicate with our friends, watch videos or browse social media for hours and hours, they can also be a great tool for education. Especially when it comes to science, there are a ton of different apps out there in the App Store that can not only educate you but also keep you entertained at the same time.

This article will take a closer look at a number of great science apps, each different from the last. Some of these will educate you about all things science, some will let you do little experiments of your own, and some will even help you have some fun. The App Store is full of tons of different choices, but the ones included on this list all have value in some way and won’t waste your time or bore you to death. So without any further ado, let’s take a look at some of the best and coolest science apps for the iPhone.

 

Winner - Science News & Discoveries
Winner - Science News & Discoveries

Compatible With

IOS, Android

The term “science app” is a very broad one. As a result, we had a lot of different options we could choose to include in this app, and the choice was not easy to pick which app should be declared the winner. Many of the apps on this list are very useful, fun, and can definitely help most individuals learn a ton of new things about science on a daily basis.

But after considering a number of apps, one stuck out above the rest. We would argue that there is no better app for knowing all there is to know (and staying up to date with) the world of science than Science News & Discoveries. The app has a ton of content but is also extremely easy to use. It is those facts, and others, that have led us to include it as the winner in this article.

Science News & Discoveries is an app that is all about educating you about all that is happening in the world of science. Science is a field where new discoveries, experiments, and tests are done every day, and there is always some new and amazing facts or information to share. This app makes sure you never miss them and it is always kept up-to-date. The app contains everything you could ever want to read about such as scientific interviews, studies, discoveries, research and more. Just by checking this app once (or a few times) a day, you will definitely become a more educated and in-touch person when it comes to the sciences.

It has a main news summary that is constantly being updated with new and exciting things to check out. And don’t worry, the app makes sure that you aren’t seeing repeated stories and the feed itself is very clear. In addition to having just a ton of always-updating content, the app is also customizable so you can make it your own. You can choose which areas of science you want to have appear in your feed. Whether you like Space, Health, Biology, Physics or anything else, you can make sure you only see the things you care about, and not the things you don’t.

You can even get push notifications on certain topics so you will never miss the important discoveries or news in a field you care about. There is also the option to block certain content from appearing and even block content from particular sources if you’re not a fan of them. You can also easily save articles and videos for later if you don’t have time to check them out in their entirety when you first come across them. Sharing articles or posts with your friends and family is also very easy and can be done in seconds.

As you are probably aware, you shouldn’t believe everything you read on the internet. This is a well-known statement and is one that goes double for science. The amount of misleading or just plain misinformation that you can find about science online is staggering. However, when you are using this app, you never have to worry about the information being accurate and legitimate. This is because the app only gathers its information from the most reliable sources on the internet, which is obviously a very good thing.

Another great feature about this app is the community of users just like you. All the science lovers who use this app are able to post stories or polls, comment on the posts of others, tag articles and more! So while reading the news and information that this app collects for you is definitely its primary function, it is also pretty cool to scroll through the kinds of things that the community is creating.

While the content and features are definitely the most important thing when it comes to an app like this, the design of the app is also pretty good too. The design is incredibly simple and clear, which is great for an app that mainly features text-heavy articles to read. The color scheme is attractive without being too bold, and navigating the app is a breeze. It is an app you can pick up for the first time and use/understand immediately.

With so many good things about it, you might be surprised to hear that Science News & Discoveries is able to be downloaded and used completely free, without the need to pay a single cent. Also, the developers and the team behind the app are very receptive to comments (whether positive or negative) and they urge users to get in touch with them so they know what is working within the app and what isn’t. It’s always a great sign when an app asks for feedback as it lets you know that the people behind it care about the user experience and want to make sure their app is as good as it possibly can be.

App Details Android

  • Category News & Magazines
  • Installs 500,000+
  • Rating out of 5 3.8
  • Last Updated Date 12 May 2022
  • App Developer Loyal Foundry
  • Download Size 23M
  • Compatibility Android 5.0 and up
  • Price $0.99 - $2.97 per item

App Details iOS

  • Category News
  • Category Ranking 139
  • Rating 174
  • Rating out of 5 4.4
  • Last Updated Date 27 November 2021
  • App Developer Newsfusion Ltd.
  • Download Size 70.2 MB
  • Compatibility Requires iOS 11.0 or later.
  • Price Free
Winner - Science News & Discoveries

Runner-up - NASA
Runner-up - NASA

Compatible With

IOS, Android

When many of us think of science, we may think of space or aeronautics. And when you think of space or aeronautics, you think of NASA. Almost everybody knows what NASA is, and there is no doubting they are doing some extremely interesting and important work. With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that the NASA app comes in at our runner-up spot.

The NASA app is full of a ton of amazing content that will entertain and educate you for hours and hours on end. The app contains news, tweets, stories, videos, images, mission information and more. It is your one-stop-shop for everything having to do with space and NASA itself.

There are over 15,000 different high-quality images you can see on this app, as well as over 10,000 different educational and entertaining videos to check out. You can also listen to live and streaming TV and video right from the app. If you love keeping up with news and featured stories about space, this app should definitely have a spot on your iPhone. The app also tells you all about the various different missions and upcoming missions within NASA. You can track satellites, the ISS and even have a cool interactive map of Earth.

The design of the app is nothing crazy or anything, but it more than gets the job done. The content is king when it comes to this app as all you have on the main page of this app is a little button for searching throughout the app, and the different widgets for things like images, videos, news and more.

The NASA app is completely free to use and is a fantastic source of information about what NASA is up to and more. If you love space, this is the app for you. There is really nothing more you could want out of an app like this. The user interface and design are nothing special, but if that is the only gripe we have with an app, it is doing pretty well. However, if neither the winner or runner-up in this article tickles your fancy when it comes to science, read on and discover many of the other amazing science apps out there.

App Details Android

  • Category Education
  • Installs 10,000,000+
  • Rating out of 5 4.5
  • Last Updated Date 30 March 2022
  • App Developer NASA 
  • Download Size 23M
  • Compatibility Android 5.0 and up
  • Price free

App Details iOS

  • Category Education
  • Rating 6.4K
  • Rating out of 5 4.8
  • Last Updated Date 25 April 2022
  • App Developer NASA
  • Download Size 86.2 MB
  • Compatibility Requires iOS 13.0 or later.
  • Price Free
WolframAlpha
WolframAlpha

Compatible With

IOS, Android

If you ever need expert knowledge on anything science or math-related, this is the app for you. With over two decades of development, this app is changing the way how people commute and gather knowledge. WolframAlpha uses its collection of thousands of different algorithms, data and sources to compute answers to your questions and provide you with in-depth reports.

The amount of different subject matter that this app can help you with is simply staggering. Almost any science or math related problem you can think of, this app will be able to answer it. Whether you have questions about Trigonometry, Quantum Physics, Psychometrics, or any other complex subject, WolframAlpha can help.

The one thing you might not like about this app is the fact that it isn’t free like many of the apps on this list will be. However, it can still be yours for under $5. And to only pay that amount to get instant access to almost any science-related question you could ever have is a small price to pay.

App Details Android

  • Category Books & Reference
  • Installs 1,000,000+
  • Rating out of 5 4.6
  • Last Updated Date 18 April 2022
  • App Developer Wolfram Group
  • Download Size 6.5M
  • Compatibility Android 5.0 and up
  • Price free

App Details iOS

  • Category Reference
  • Category Ranking 3
  • Rating 1.1K
  • Rating out of 5 4.1
  • Last Updated Date 23 February 2022
  • App Developer Wolfram Group LLC
  • Download Size 34.4 MB
  • Compatibility Requires iOS 13.0 or later.
  • Price $2.99
BrainPOP
BrainPOP

Compatible With

IOS, Android

This app is all about keeping you or your children entertained, while also making sure you learn a new thing each and every day. BrainPOP has been downloaded millions and millions of times by all different sorts of people from teachers, to students, to parents, and everyone in between.

BrainPOP is an app that gives you a different animated movie to watch every day. These movies are designed to keep your attention and not bore you, while also teaching you some valuable information. Once you are done watching the movie, the app quizzes you on the movie as well. While the app does include a lot about science, a wide range of other subjects can be covered with this app as well.

While the app is free to download and use, that only gets you the one video and quiz a day to test your knowledge and get smarter. However, if you want a deeper access to the content of this app, there are a few different types of this app you can get. The first is the Explorer subscription, which gets you an additional 4 videos and quizzes each day. However, if you really want full access to this app, you can go for the Full Access subscription. This option gets you unlimited access to the near 1000 videos and quizzes within the app.

App Details Android

  • Category Education
  • Installs 1,000,000+
  • Rating out of 5 4.2
  • Last Updated Date 30 August 2021
  • App Developer BrainPOP
  • Download Size Varies with device
  • Compatibility Android Varies with device
  • Price $1.99 - $59.99 per item

App Details iOS

  • Category Education
  • Rating 1.2K
  • Rating out of 5 4.7
  • Last Updated Date 28 January 2022
  • App Developer BrainPOP
  • Download Size 34.4 MB
  • Compatibility Requires iOS 9.0 or later.
  • Price Free
Attenborough Story of Life
Attenborough Story of Life

Compatible With

IOS, Android

If you are anything like us, watching those nature documentaries is something we all love to do. And while some people may love seeing all the animals in their natural habitats and watching all that they do, some people love the soothing and calm narration. And of all the people who do the voiceover work for these nature documentaries, no one is as famous or as beloved as David Attenborough.

For decades, he has been narrating nature videos and documentaries, and there is finally a place where you can enjoy all of this work without having to search far and wide. Attenborough Story of Life is an app that contains the most comprehensive list of content from Attenborough ever released. You can find highlights, videos, and clips of his work from dozens of different shows and programs.

The app even includes some exclusive content created and curated by Attenborough himself.  The app also lets you save clips that you love and allows you to easily share them with others. So not only do you get all of this amazing content in one place, you get it completely free. If you love nature documentaries or David Attenborough himself, this app is a must have and is one that will surely provide you with hours and hours of enjoyment.

App Details Android

  • Category Education
  • Installs 10,000+
  • Rating out of 5 3.0
  • Last Updated Date 9 October 2019
  • App Developer Magzter Inc.
  • Download Size 11M
  • Compatibility Android 4.1 and up
  • Price $0.99 - $199.99 per item

App Details iOS

  • Category Magazines & Newspapers
  • Category Ranking 185
  • Rating 7
  • Rating out of 5 3.3
  • Last Updated Date 23 November 2021
  • App Developer Pulp Kreatives Pte Ltd
  • Download Size 75.3 MB
  • Compatibility Requires iOS 9.0 or later.
  • Price Free
Attenborough Story of Life

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WWF Together
WWF Together

Compatible With

IOS

For over half a century, the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) has had a mission of creating a future in which people and animals live in harmony together. A big part of this is saving animals from a number of different threats. And while there is a good chance that you have heard about it, you might not have known that the WWF has an app. WWF Together is an app that provides you with in-depth and interactive stories of various different endangered animals such as giant pandas, tigers, polar bears and more.

WWF Together is an app that provides you with in-depth and interactive stories of various different endangered animals such as giant pandas, tigers, polar bears and more. All in all, the app really helps you connect with these endangered species that you probably knew of, but didn’t know that much about. The app also gives you multiple different ways to get involved and help protect these animals that you just learned about.

In addition to these stories, this app has a variety of other cool features. WWF Together includes a ton of up-to-date wildlife and conservation facts and a ton of different facts about animals. The app also includes impressive galleries of photos and videos for your enjoyment. The app can be downloaded and enjoyed for free and is one of the best apps out there for connecting with a wide range of different animals.

WWF Together

Visual Anatomy Lite
Visual Anatomy Lite

Compatible With

IOS, Android

Learning about the anatomy of a human being can be a long and painstaking process for some people. There are so many different things to learn and know, that any way to make it easier or more fun is always a good thing. Well thankfully, this app can do just that. Visual Anatomy Lite is a tool for education and referencing about human anatomy. Whether you need to know about the bones, the muscles or any of the systems within the body, this app will be great for you.

The app contains over 100 high-quality images and over 300 different feature points that can be individually selected to look at closer. Each of these feature points is labeled and has its own description so you always know what you are looking at. Quick navigation is possible within the app and you can view the models from various different angles. You can even quiz yourself from right in the app!

Whether you are a student, a teacher, or just someone who wants to learn more about the human body, this app is an amazing educational tool for you. There is a more fully featured version of this app, but the free version is also pretty decent too. Either way you decide to go, rest assured that this app will be a great educational tool that will definitely help you learn more about the human body.

App Details Android

  • Category Medical
  • Installs 1,000,000+
  • Rating out of 5 4.5
  • Last Updated Date 29 July 2020
  • App Developer Education Mobile
  • Download Size Varies with device
  • Compatibility Android Varies with device
  • Price free

App Details iOS

  • Category Medical
  • Rating 3K
  • Rating out of 5 4.7
  • Last Updated Date 1 August 2021
  • App Developer YingLiang Ma
  • Download Size 94 MB
  • Compatibility Requires iOS 9.0 or later.
  • Price Free
Touch Surgery
Touch Surgery

Compatible With

IOS, Android

There are very few (if any) apps out there that are better for training for surgical procedures than this one. In fact, this app is used in a number of residency programs across the USA and a number of different of foundations, so you know it’s legitimate.  Touch Surgery is an app that allows you to practice surgery with a realistic and detailed guide, right on your iPhone.

The app can test your knowledge, track your progress over time and even share your results with other professionals in the industry. There is a huge database of different procedures to choose from and you can even build your own library of procedures based on the ones you want to learn and get better at. Simply put, there is no better app out there to help you learn about surgery and to test your medical skills against the best in the world.

There is absolutely no doubting the viability and helpfulness of this app in the medical field. However, would you believe if we told you it is able to be downloaded and used completely free? That’s right, you don’t have to pay a cent to get to use the same app that the pros do. All in all, this is one of the best apps for soon-to-be surgeons or just those who want to see what it’s all about.

App Details Android

  • Category Medical
  • Installs 1,000,000+
  • Rating out of 5 4.1
  • Last Updated Date 13 April 2022
  • App Developer Digital Surgery Limited
  • Download Size 16M
  • Compatibility Android 5.0 and up
  • Price $1.99 - $46.99 per item

App Details iOS

  • Category Medical
  • Rating 443
  • Rating out of 5 4.7
  • Last Updated Date 28 April 2022
  • App Developer Digital Surgery Ltd
  • Download Size 55.2 MB
  • Compatibility Requires iOS 13.0 or later.
  • Price Free
Star Walk
Star Walk

Compatible With

IOS, Android

Stargazing is an amazingly fun activity, but this app can make it even better. And you’ve never seen a stargazing app like this on a mobile device before. Star Walk is your interactive guide to the night sky above you and can give you information about all the stars and constellations, more than 200,000 of them for that matter. Not only that, but the app follows all of your movements in real time so it always knows what celestial bodies you will be able to see from where you are.

The app is also extremely easy to use. Simply launch the app and point your device at the night sky. From there you will be able to see all the different stars and constellations, in their proper places. As you move the device, the app will update your view in real time. You can also tap on each object to learn more about it and get more information. The app has loads of other features too, and it makes it easy to share your discoveries and findings with others.

Despite the fact that it is the most expensive app on this list, we would say it is more than worth the price. The things that this app can do are extremely cool and keep you entertained for hours, while also being able to educate you about the sky we see above us every single night. Also, with more than 10 million users, most people don’t mind paying a few dollars for an app like this one.

App Details Android

  • Category Education
  • Installs 1,000,000+
  • Rating out of 5 3.8
  • Last Updated Date 18 November 2020
  • App Developer Vito Technology
  • Download Size 105M
  • Compatibility Android 4.4 and up
  • Price $0.99 - $9.99 per item

App Details iOS

  • Category Education
  • Category Ranking 186
  • Rating 24.9K
  • Rating out of 5 4.7
  • Last Updated Date 11 November 2020
  • App Developer Vito Technology Inc.
  • Download Size 197.1 MB
  • Compatibility Requires iOS 9.0 or later.
  • Price Free
EarthViewer
EarthViewer

Compatible With

IOS

While at first glance you might just think that this app is a cheap Google Earth knockoff, you couldn’t be further from the truth. EarthViewer is basically like a time machine for exploring throughout the extremely deep history of the earth. Don’t worry about the app being accurate either, as it is based on the latest scientific research.

The app lets you scroll through the last 4.5 Billion years of the Earth’s history in minutes. Whether you want to see how the continents have changed over time, or how cities have grown or shrunk, this app can do it for you. Our planet is dynamic and constantly changing, and this wonderful app proves it. In addition to seeing the earth change, this app also includes features such as the changes in sea level over time, changes in global temperature over time, features on large events in the history of the world and much more.

This app can provide hours and hours of entertainment, while also teaching you quite a bit about the history of the earth as well. In fact, we would argue it would be hard to ever run out of things to do in this app. However, one of the best parts about this app is the fact that it can be yours without paying a single dollar. It can be downloaded for free and there is no need for in-app purchases as everything is already included within the app. No matter who you are (whether a student, teacher or anyone else) there is a good chance you can find some enjoyment out of this app.

App Details iOS

  • Category Education
  • Rating 21
  • Rating out of 5 4.2
  • Last Updated Date 19 June 2017
  • App Developer Howard Hughes Medical Institute
  • Download Size 112.9 MB
  • Compatibility Requires iOS 9.3 or later.
  • Price Free
EarthViewer

TED
TED

Compatible With

IOS, Android

If you like listening to experts speak about the things thet are passionate about, this is the app for you. In case you are unfamiliar with TED talks, they are conferences in which people speak about technology, entertainment, design and more. They are watch by millions of people and instead of scouring the internet to find your favorites, why not use this app?

The TED app gives you access to more than 2,000 different videos to learn from some of the smartest and most remarkable people on this planet. You can search by mood or topic, to ensure that you are only watching videos that you want. However, with so many experts in so many different fields within this app, it is definitely a good idea to get a little bit out of your comfort zone and check out new videos and topics. No matter which videos you watch on this app, you are sure to learn a thing or two from them.

While this app won’t be for everyone (as some might find the talks a little bit dry and boring), there are millions of people that love TED talks and listen to them any chance they get. This app also has a number of other features such as the ability to bookmark videos and download them for offline viewing. The TED app can even create your very own playlist of TED talks for you. But perhaps best of all, the app is available for free.

App Details Android

  • Category Education
  • Installs 10,000,000+
  • Rating out of 5 4.5
  • Last Updated Date 18 May 2022
  • App Developer TED Conferences LLC
  • Download Size 55M
  • Compatibility Android 5.0 and up
  • Price free

App Details iOS

  • Category Education
  • Category Ranking 144
  • Rating 10K
  • Rating out of 5 4.6
  • Last Updated Date 26 April 2022
  • App Developer TED Conferences LLC
  • Download Size 45.2 MB
  • Compatibility Requires iOS 11.0 or later.
  • Price Free
Mathspace
Mathspace

Compatible With

IOS, Android

For some people, math is the bane of their existence. It seems to be one of those subjects that you either love or hate, are great at or are terrible at. If you are one of those people who aren’t good at it or hate it, this app might be for you. Mathspace is essentially a textbook and workbook to help you improve and get more comfortable with math.

Mathspace is a computer-based system that lets students (or any individual) to complete full solutions online while getting feedback along the way to make sure everything is being done correctly. No matter what subject or area in math you need help with, you can feel confident that this app will have you covered.

While the app is definitely aimed at students, it also has value to people outside of the classroom. Math is all around us, and understanding and enjoying it can make your life a lot easier. With so much content available in the app (over 30,000 questions, answers, and problems), it is amazing that the app is available without having to pay a cent.

App Details Android

  • Category Education
  • Installs 10,000+
  • Rating out of 5 3.2
  • Last Updated Date 2 December 2019
  • App Developer Mathspace
  • Download Size 72M
  • Compatibility Android 7.0 and up
  • Price free

App Details iOS

  • Category Education
  • Rating 2.4K
  • Rating out of 5 3.9
  • Last Updated Date 5 May 2019
  • App Developer Mathspace PTY LTD
  • Download Size 48.8 MB
  • Compatibility Requires iPadOS 10.0 or later.
  • Price Free
SketchAR
SketchAR

Compatible With

IOS, Android

Now this app is fairly different than most on this app as it doesn’t necessarily teach you about science, but it uses a lot of cool science and technology within the app. This app uses augmented reality and many would say it is the single coolest app on this list. SketchAR is all about helping everyone be able to draw like a professional artist.

The way it does this is by showing you a virtual image of the surface you are going to draw on. Basically, you hold your phone in one hand as it shines the virtual image onto your real piece of paper, while your other hand can trace the virtual image. Also, you can transport any image you have on your phone into a sketch that you can draw.

While the app is great, it can be a bit finicky to get working. It requires a steady hand and a bright room to work. But once you get it to work, the technology within this app is truly amazing and is on the cutting edge of technology and what is capable of our mobile devices. Also, the fact that this app is completely free is a great selling point. Even if you aren’t an artist or aren’t really into drawing, this app is worth a try based on the fact of just how cool the science and technology of it is.

App Details Android

  • Category Art & Design
  • Installs 1,000,000+
  • Rating out of 5 4.3
  • Last Updated Date 4 May 2022
  • App Developer SKETCHAR
  • Download Size 181M
  • Compatibility Android 7.0 and up
  • Price $0.99 - $69.99 per item

App Details iOS

  • Category Graphics & Design
  • Category Ranking 78
  • Rating 5.7K
  • Rating out of 5 4.2
  • Last Updated Date 25 April 2022
  • App Developer SKETCHAR UAB
  • Download Size 174.2 MB
  • Compatibility Requires iOS 13.0 or later.
  • Price Free
Kale Havervold

Jul 6, 2018

I have been a writer for a few years now and look to inform, educate and entertain with my writing.

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