COM vs Molecules that changed the World
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
COM
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COM simulates experiments with isolated mitochondria in an incubation chamber fitted with an oxygen electrode (oxygraph). Add mitochondria, substrates, ADP, inhibitors and uncouplers one after another and follow, in real time, O₂ consumption and the electrical potential of the inner membrane (Δψ). The challenge is to find out what each compound does: which ones stimulate oxygen consumption, which ones inhibit it, where each electron transport chain inhibitor acts and how uncouplers separate respiration from ATP synthesis. • 15 compounds: malate, pyruvate, α-ketoglutarate, succinate, TMPD + ascorbate, ADP + phosphate, rotenone, malonate, antimycin A, cyanide, carbon monoxide, oligomycin, 2,4-dinitrophenol and FCCP • Recording of dissolved O₂ and Δψ, with a numbered history of every addition • Several experiments side by side for comparison • Question guide for undergraduate classes and an answer table for teachers • Portuguese, English and Spanish Current version of the COM simulator, created in 1997 at the Educational Technology Laboratory (LTE), Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (Unicamp), and used in biochemistry courses ever since. Part of BIOQUÍMICA +30. Free, no ads, no sign-up and no data collection. Works offline.
Molecules that changed the World
Explore the scientific facts and captivating stories behind molecules that have shaped our world. Discover how basic compounds like water and complex synthetics like aspirin influenced culture, civilization, and life itself.
- Scientific facts about influential molecules
- Stories of cultural and civilizational impact
- Covers basic and synthetic compounds
- Explains chemical background
- Details historical and cultural influence
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The "Molecules that changed the World" App is meant to convey the scientific facts and interesting stories of molecules that changed our culture, course of civilisation and in short, the world. Among the represented molecules are such basic compounds like water, carbon dioxide, ammonia, which not only influenced the way we think about resources, climate and food production but also affected the development of early life on Earth, and synthetic complex compounds such as nitroglycerin, polyethylene and aspirin. App is aiming at telling you more about the chemical background of such molecules and their influence onto the historical and cultural developments and the life as we know it. This app is a translation of the interactive 3D installation "Molecules that Changed the World" by Ljiljana Fruk and Bernd Lintermann, which was designed at ZKM/Institute for Visual Media to accompany the "Molecular Aesthetics" Symposium held at ZKM | Centre for Art and Media, Karlsruhe, Germany in 2011.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Molecules that changed the World at every 3 weeks against COM's every 3 months. Molecules that changed the World also leads on iOS requirement (8.0 vs 16.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
COM ships an update every 3 months, Molecules that changed the World every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | COM | Molecules that changed the World |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 3.3 (4 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 4 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 8.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 79 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Eduardo Galembeck | ZKM | Zentrum fuer Kunst und Medientechnologie Karlsruhe |
In-app purchases
COM
No in-app purchases
Molecules that changed the World
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is COM free?
Is Molecules that changed the World free?
Do COM or Molecules that changed the World have ads?
Which is updated more often, COM or Molecules that changed the World?
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