We live in a biologically diverse world that we do not always recognize, but it is still there, affecting our lives and impacted by our actions. LifeScanner is an app for iPhone and iPad devices combined with a DNA identification kit to help people discover the diversity of living organisms around them and to help them contribute to a global knowledge-base on biological diversity. Use the app to learn about the species you encounter - from the food you eat to the bugs in your garden. By providing access to scientific data and processes in an easy-to-use platform, LifeScanner allows non-scientists to explore and access information on species to educate or help make informed decisions. While enjoying the backyard, hiking on a trail, or a day at the beach, users can look up the species found in their region and in other parts of the world or identify species they encounter based on a DNA sample.