Science

A NASA scientist has successfully created a hardware accessory that turns an iPhone into a portable Wi-Fi connected chemical sniffer, capable of detecting small amounts of things like ammonia, chlorine gas and methane. The hardware add-on contains a chip with 16 nanosensors that detect particles from different vaporous substances, then transmitting that information on to the iPhone.

So we know the iPhone's screen is oleophobic, which we're pretty sure means it won't get all greasy-looking from the oil from your fingers and face (and potato chips). None other than science-man Bill Nye explains what exactly is going on in a guest piece for Gizmodo. Apparently it involves taking an organic compound and bonding it to the screen using... well, science.

You can now follow the upcoming shuttle mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope satellite in real time on your iPhone or iPod touch. GoSatWatch, from GoSoftworks, lets you track the approximate location of satellites orbiting the earth, including Hubble and the International Space Station. It will also let you track the upcoming Space Shuttle STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope scheduled for May 12th, the last mission to Hubble.