September 1, 2014 (Vol. 34, No. 15)
Rating:
Strong Points: Beautiful app, nice videos and animations
Weak Points: None
Platform:
iPad
Cost:
Free
Summary:
Whether the flicker of fireflies or the glow of jellyfish, bioluminescence exists in many forms. The American Museum of Natural History’s Creatures of Light app serves as a companion to the museum’s bioluminescence exhibit, but even if you can’t visit the museum, the app provides an exciting tour through nature all on its own. Beyond a section of the app devoted to the exhibition, the app contains five sections that each explores bioluminescence in a different setting. Enchanted Evening teaches users about fireflies; Light on Land explores glowworms and other land-dwelling bioluminescent critters; A Sparkling Sea dives into the world of dinoflagellates; Altered Light explores fluorescent animals like jellyfish; and The Deep Ocean introduces users to the many different types of deep-dwelling bioluminescence creatures.
