1. Lumosity

On iTunes: itunes.apple.com
Price: Free

Lumosity is one of the most popular brain training apps, and it's certainly among the most credible. Neuroscientists developed it, for crying out loud. Think of it as a personal trainer for your brain. You'll play a session of three games that are designed to help fine tune a particular set of goals, whether that be memory, problem solving, attention, etc. The games change so you actually build upon what you've already accomplished rather than simply learn how to memorize solutions.

2. HowStuffWorks

On iTunes: itunes.apple.com
Price: Free

HowStuffWorks is one of those websites in which you could easily get lost. There's so much cool information to soak up that you get sucked for hours at a time. Good news for those of us already addicted: there's a mobile app! You'll have access to over 30,000 educational articles, videos, and podcasts, all for for free, from HowStuffWorks and the Discovery Channel. Basically, you won't ever have to stop learning. When you're done gaining knowledge about everything in the world, you can take quizzes to test your skills.

3. 7 Little Words

On iTunes: itunes.apple.com
Price: Free

This is a deceitful little app. 7 Little Words looks harmless upon installation, but it's actually wickedly addictive and quite challenging. As far as word games go, 7 Little Words packs a clever punch with its unique twist on the tired "unscramble this word" gameplay we're used to. You're given a set of clues and a handful of tiles that depict pieces of words. You use the tiles to form words that solve the clues. It sounds easy--sometimes it is--but you'll eventually be forced to clear your brain of cobwebs and do some serious thinking.

4. Georeader

On iTunes: itunes.apple.com

Price: $2.99

When you travel, you may not be aware of how much incredible information literally passes you by. That's where Georeader comes in. Its function is straightforward. As you walk or drive by a point of interest, Georeader gives you a breakdown of its history or importance. With over 120,000 points of interest across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the U.K., and Europe, you'll be sure to learn something new no matter where you go.

5. SimplePhysics

On iTunes: itunes.apple.com

Price: $2

If you've ever been interested in learning about physics, this is your chance. SimplePhysics combines cutesy gameplay with serious engineering laws to create a fun, challenging app. In SimplePhysics, your task is to build a structure that can hold up against wind, weight, explosions, etc. It may not be the most practical app if you aren't planning on building a house anytime soon, but you'll certainly learn a lot about how the world around you works.

6. TED

On iTunes: itunes.apple.com
Price: Free

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've heard of TED Talks. To borrow from TED's own explanation of the organization, the talks focus on ideas worth spreading. Now, you can hear those ideas on the go.

The TED app gives users access to over 1700 video and audio files of truly inspiring speakers. Whether you want to hear about education reform, medical breakthroughs, music, or anything else in between, TED has something for you. Like the rest of these apps, TED is available on both iOS and Android. If you’re worried about getting the most out of TED on the go, be sure you have a strong data connection so you can watch without interruption. This shouldn’t be an issue as you can find affordable data plans from carriers like T-Mobile.

7. Duolingo

On iTunes: itunes.apple.com

Price: Free

Most of us have toyed with the idea of learning a new language but, for whatever reason, have never gotten around to it. If it's an issue of time or money, those constraints mean nothing when you bring Duolingo into the picture. This easy-to-use app teaches you a new language (for free!) at your own pace through a nifty gameplay system using bite-sized lessons of Spanish, French, Italian, German, or Portuguese.

There you have it. The next time someone gives you a dirty look for fiddling with your phone during dinner, smile smugly and bask in the knowledge that your brain is probably bigger than theirs.