If you are passionate about protecting the planet from the global warming trend that greenhouse gas emissions are speeding merrily along, then you’ve no doubt had more than one occasion to argue with those who feel that 1) climate change is natural and it has happened before, 2) reports of melting ice caps have been over exaggerated, and 3) Al Gore lied. You may be alarmed by the number of people who are either blissfully unaware of the potential threat posed by global warming or who happen to be blithely determined to ignore the data that points to mankind’s role in the process. And yet, you might also be more than a little weary of arguing with those who seem to think that the issue is somehow up for debate and that the data out there is really more of an opinion than actual fact. It’s enough to make you weep with frustration. But thankfully, there is an app out there that can give you the “I told you so” cred you’ve been looking for and basically make your case for you. If you haven’t yet downloaded Skeptical Science, it’s high time you got this freebie for your favorite iDevice.

Shine Technologies, makers of the Skeptical Science application, had two main goals when creating this handy mobile database; they wanted to help people learn more about global warming while also giving them the tools needed to turn the proverbial hose on skeptics. The result is a wealth of peer reviewed, scientific data pertaining to global warming that can help those interested in stopping this alarming trend. However, it is also a weapon in your arsenal against stupidity. It provides users with a listing of the most popular arguments proffered by skeptics, along with the hard science needed to prove such fallacious statements wrong. Of course, you might just end up angering your family and friends by this method, but if you change even one person’s mind, it could be well worth your while.

Those who argue the veracity of global warming are prone to tossing out all kinds of claims, most notably that there is no such thing. They might attribute warming trends to the urban heat island effect, or say that climate change over the past forty or fifty years is due to an over-abundance of sun spots, just for example. They may even spout outright lies, like saying that the polar ice caps are actually growing rather than shrinking (apparently they haven’t seen that documentary about the polar bear habitat). Skeptical Science addresses the most common arguments against global warming and utilizes evidence garnered from highly regarded scientific studies and environmental data resources to prove them wrong.

In addition, you can browse to find retorts to arguments you’ve come up against and report false claims that you’ve recently heard in order to let other users know how the fight against global warming is progressing on the social front. You can also access the latest news on the subject, including myths that are springing up and how the scientific evidence proves them wrong. All the data in the world might not be enough to convince some people that they’ve fallen on the wrong side of the debate, but perhaps providing the data to back up your stance that this issue is very real will actually sway a few people and make a difference. Either way, it couldn’t hurt to download Skeptical Science and save yourself the bother of a fight by simply pulling up the science that proves your point.