A drop of liquid water, a grain of table salt, a piece of iron, a cube of sugar—are the obvious differences between these very ordinary substances reflected in differences at the molecular level? What if we had a giant microscope that would allow us to inspect, manipulate, and query these substances at the nanometer scale? ODYSSEY Common Substances is a scientifically sound tool for visualization and investigation at the molecular level. It can be used by complete novices but is informative even for users with a strong science background. Whether beginner or expert, the app provides a hands-on feel for the particulate nature of matter.

ODYSSEY Common Substances includes twenty-six detail-rich models that range from samples of gas (air, helium) to crystalline solids (copper, silicon) and from aqueous solutions (seawater, vinegar) to molecular representations of biopolymers (collagen, DNA). Using simple gestures, all models can be inspected at any orientation and zoom level and examined with different visualization styles. Sixteen of the models can be animated in room temperature simulations, thereby providing the viewer with an intuitive sense for the dynamic nature of matter at the molecular level. A glossary, comments section, and set of multiple choice questions (with randomized options) are also included.

Molecular science is at the core of many of the innovations that are transforming civilization. ODYSSEY Common Substances can help to take the mystery out of a dimension that is not amenable to direct observation.