Five free family-friendly science apps

Whether it’s identifying a bird or looking up at the stars, use use your phone to discover more about the world around you.

September 14, 2021 11:14 a.m. EST

Who doesn't love to learn something new? Biologist Dan Riskin is inspiring us to learn at home with five free science apps the whole can use to connect with nature.

iNaturalist

One of the world's most popular nature apps, iNaturalist helps you identify the plants and animals around you. Get connected with a community of over 400,000 scientists and naturalists who can help you learn more about nature! If you find a species you can't identify, you can take a photo and upload to the app. The app's software makes an impressively accurate first guess and then you post it to the community of experts who can chime in to tell you if they agree with your ID. Your observation becomes data, available for scientists for their research.

Find the iNaturalist app on Google Play or the Apple Store

Merlin

Answer three simple questions about a bird you are trying to identify and Merlin will give you a list of possible matches. Merlin offers quick identification help for all levels of bird watchers to help you learn about the birds across the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania.

Find the Merlin app on Google Play or the Apple Store

Flightradar 24

Turn your phone or tablet into a live plane tracker and see flights around the world move in real-time on a detailed map with the Flightradar 24 app. Or point your device at a airplane to find out where it’s going and what kind of aircraft it is.

Find the Flightradar 24 app on Google Play or the Apple Store

ISS Detector

Have you seen the International Space Station? It is visible with the naked eye! This is the easiest way to spot the station: ISS Detector will tell you when and where to look for the ISS. You get an alarm a few minutes before a pass. You will never miss it. ISS Detector will also check if the weather conditions are right.

Find the ISS Detector on Google Play or the Apple Store

Star Walk

Star Walk is the most beautiful stargazing app you’ve ever seen on a mobile device. It will become your interactive guide to the night sky, following your every movement in real-time and allowing you to explore over 200, 000 celestial bodies with extensive information. You can hold up your phone to the sky and see the labels for planets, stars, comets and other important phenomena.

Find the Star Walk app on Google Play or the Apple Store