Best gifts for scientists, academics, and hardcore science geeks

Everyone enjoys getting thoughtful, well-intended gifts, but some people are hard to buy for. It's the quirky academics and hardcore scientists who are often the most difficult to work with because they're picky - and does anybody really need another shelf item taking up space? You don't have to worry: ExtremeTech has you covered with its crapware-free gift guide. These science-minded picks are ideal for putting a sparkle in your favorite STEM enthusiast's eye on any occasion. Here you will find a little something for everyone, whether you are a bench scientist, a programmer or a science fiction fan.

First things first: labware for around the house

It has been said that physicists are just coffee-making machines, but why should the academics have all the fun? The walnut and brass pour-over coffee stand ($189) looks just like a ring stand with a glass funnel - but you can use it to make coffee at your desk and not worry about what the freshman chemistry class spilled. I am reminded of Gale Boetticher's mathematically optimal coffee-brewing apparatus. Hario V60 drippers fit into the ring, and the ring itself can be adjusted to match the height of your mug, flagon, or beaker. In terms of aesthetics, it looks like something you might find in a steampunk chemistry laboratory, assuming steampunk labs have much better funding than their real-world counterparts. While Gale's vacuum-brewing rig has been the subject of much scientific debate, the pour-over method produces an equally tasty cup of coffee. The rig can make coffee just as fast as you can pour water through the grounds, unlike a French press. You may be able to locate a new box of filter paper circles in the chemical storage room. 

Here's a mug that looks just like a beaker to continue the theme of using lab glass for coffee, which everyone should already know is actually a terrible idea. It is available in two sizes, 350mL ($5.99) and 900mL ($7.99), and is constructed of tempered borosilicate glass. Perhaps you need a modestly priced gift for a Secret Santa exchangeThere might be a need for a metric-label beaker mug.m. Or maybe, like me, you prefer borosilicate glass for use in your own secret science lab. No matter what your reason is, this lab beaker mug lets you drink coffee in style. In addition, it is likely to make your principal investigator do a double take.

According to legend, in ancient Persia, to determine an argument's validity, thinkers would debate it twice: once sober and once drunk. If it passed both debates, it was valid. Drinks out of tiny beakers or culture tubes are a great way to get your scientific drink on for those 21 and over. Spending money on a kitschy giftware "test tube shots" set you know will break when you can get real lab glass for much less. Whether you prefer to take your shots from test tubes or beakers, these are real borosilicate lab glasses. Each test tube holds 36 milliliters or 1.27 fl oz ($11.19 for six). The 25mL beakers ($4.49) hold 25 mL, or about one fluid ounce. They can also be marked.

It is also made from toughened borosilicate glass, which is just as light and tough as lab glass, but with a more casual form factor, so it doesn't look like you stole it from the lab supply cabinet.

Smartphone toys

Everyone knows someone who is constantly glued to their phone. Maybe you are one of them. But phones are useful for much more than Temple Run. The computer that powered the Apollo spaceships is outperformed by your smartphone. It is true that much of its power comes from the information it can access via the web. In addition, smartphones can also be powerful force multipliers, augmenting our senses and allowing us to look at the world in greater detail.

I love capturing beauty shots from scientific research with my smartphone. This is an adapter mount ($19.99) that lets you use your smartphone to capture what you see through a microscope, a telescope, binoculars or any other lens-y device. A wide variety of optical instruments can be fitted with this adapter. It is compatible with Apple, Samsung, and Sony devices, and has an adjustable clamp to fit different types of hardware. It will fit instruments with eyepieces from 28-47mm in diameter and should be extremely useful for photography where you want to shoot through another optical device, but need a stable, secure mount.

If the cell phone adapter mount is for people who want to attach their Android or iPhone to other devices, this lens kit ($16.99) is for people who take pictures with their smartphones. You can mount it on basically any smartphone and it comes with a 10x macro lens and a wide angle lens. Although these lenses aren't professional grade, if you're just trying it out or your needs are modest, or if you've got a budding photographer just starting out, these basic kits are a great way to add flexibility to your hardware without having to break the bank. You can use it to take a beauty shot of the streak plate you just pulled out of the incubator or to take a selfie in front of your battle station. Macro shots are also possible.

When keeping your image in focus is critical, you can't have your camera moving around. This is especially important if you want to capture the images you see through your telescope's viewfinder. You can be confident that your photos will be crisply focused with a compact tripod and remote shutter button ($24.99). When your phone is mounted on a microscope or telescope, you can use the shutter button to capture perfect pictures of the beautiful slide you just stained and fixed, or the nebula you just discovered.

However, smartphone toys aren't limited to camera accessories. Infrared imaging allows you to explore the world by extending your senses into another region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Flir is the company to check out if you're interested in an infrared camera add-on for Android or iOS. The Android and iOS versions cost the same ($215), and the camera can capture temperatures between -20F and 248F (-20-120C). Kit is compatible with Samsung's Galaxy S5 and S6, Samsung's Galaxy Tab S10.5 and S8.4, HTC's One M8, and LG's V400. Due to its own battery, the Flir One will not drain your smartphone's battery life.

Tardigrades are indestructible. You can indulge your giftee's mild obsession with water bears, and they'll always have a conversation starter, wherever they go, with this tardigrade necklace ($24.99). Live tiny, die never.

Mathematicians are a special breed. It's hard to believe some of the things that mathematicians have fought over in the past, but the debate over pi versus tau raises a lot of hackles among mathematicians. Let a tauist show other, lesser mathematicians the error of their ways by clicking the "I prefer tau" button. If your giftee is a bookish type, they might enjoy Prime Obsession by John Derbyshire, or perhaps the intellectually stimulating Everything and More by David Foster Wallace. Stocking stuffers include dry erase markers and chalk.

Programmers tend to favor certain keyboards, and they tend to stick to them. The Razer DeathStalker is my favorite keyboard because I love rainbows and membrane keyboards. It is true that some heathens prefer mechanical keyboards, and Das Keyboard, which is an absolute beast, may be suited to them.

I have never touched a lab notebook like this one ($19.99). My lab partner had one, I saw it and asked where she bought it, I bought my own, and now I'm a convert. For lab or engineering notebooks, VELA notebooks are better than Moleskine. I know that's fighting talk among those who keep field notes. The hardcover resists smudges and fingerprints. Each page has a 5x5mm grid and is clearly numbered. You'll still have a tight, square close, even if you smash it flat on your desk. You might be the kind of person who charts out everything in pencil before going over it in ink in your field notebook, or one who hesitates to commit to an organizational scheme since it may be difficult to assemble it as a table of contents later. This notebook is for you. No matter what you do to it, or how much mustard you have on your tie, its crisp cover and clean edges look professional. Give it to any science person, and they'll love it.

If the recipient is an artist, they will adore these beautiful and eco-friendly notebooks from Cognitive Surplus that feature cover art specific to their field: geography, geometry, physics, crystallography, mathematics, and more.

The CAT Phone S60 ($599.99) is a unique device with a specific use-case - it is the only smartphone on the market with a thermal camera built-in, coupled with a highly rugged design. With a price tag of $600, this isn't an inexpensive piece of equipment, and if speed is all you're looking for, you can get a faster smartphone for much less money. The CAT S60 is distinguished by its ability to take a beating and its Flir integration. The Snapdragon 617, 720p display, 32GB of storage, and 3GB of RAM do place this device in competitive midrange territory. CAT S60 is a good option if you already have a thermal camera and need a rugged smartphone.

Gifts for academics, scientists and tinkerers

You can find a snazzy gift for career or professional scientists of all kinds - whether they're programmers, mathematicians, bench chemists, engineers, or field archaeologists. Treat them well.

At $200, this Omax compound binocular microscope will impress even the most discerning person. You can be sure your gift recipient does not already own one of these. The oil immersion lens allows for magnification up to 2,000x, just like you'd find in a university lab. Don't give this to someone who doesn't know how to use an oil immersion objective on a microscope. But if they do, and you can ask them that question without giving away what you plan to give them, just say you saw something online - this is a bold, durable gift that will make a big impact. This is the real thing.

There is an incredible array of bits and tools included in the iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit ($69.99). ThinkGeek reports that it's standard issue for some FBI and CIA teams. Can any FBI or CIA sources confirm, or is that classified?

Whether they're a layman, an EE major, or an experienced professional, your giftee will have no trouble diving into electronics and electrical engineering with that kit, Make: Electronics ($19), and a Raspberry Pi or Arduino starter kit. Comprehensive and clear, this book is a great resource for beginning programmers, and it allowed me to experiment with a RasPi B.