August 1, 2012
1 min read
Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAmRecommended: Also notable
Books and recommendations from Scientific American
By Anna Kuchment
APPS
iBird Explorer PRO. Mitch Waite Group, 2011 ($2.99). For iPhone/iPad. This top-rated app for bird lovers (right) features 924 North American and Hawaiian birds and their songs.
LeafSnap. Columbia University, University of Maryland and Smithsonian Institution, 2011 (free). For iPhone/iPad. Snap a picture of almost any leaf, and this cool app will help you identify it by bringing up images and names of possible matches.
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
Particle Zoo. Richard Burgess, 2011 (free). For iPhone/iPad. Mainly for kids but also a handy primer for adults, this app describes all the particles and antiparticles—including those that have not yet been discovered.
Planets. QContinuum, 2012 (free). For iPhone/iPad. An addictive real-time map of the sky showing when the planets and moon are, or will be, visible, plus great data on each planet's mass, orbit and moons.
COMMENT ATScientificAmerican.com/aug2012
It’s Time to Stand Up for Science
If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.
I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.
If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.
In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.
There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.
