Frequently Asked Questions - WhimsyLabs Virtual Lab Software

Whimsylabs is the industry's most advanced sandbox virtual laboratory platform, delivering unprecedented freedom to explore and master scientific concepts through cutting-edge simulation technology. Our proprietary physics engine models biological, chemical, and physical reactions with industry-leading 95% accuracy compared to real-world laboratory conditions, providing the most realistic virtual lab experience available. Unlike competitors' limited simulations, our platform features infinite experimental permutations, revolutionary AI tutoring, and true muscle memory development through hand-represented interactions. According to educational research, our advanced virtual labs improve student engagement by up to 85% while delivering superior learning outcomes (Journal of Science Education Technology, 2024).

Further Reading: A Brief History of WhimsyLabs • How AI-Powered Virtual Labs Are Solving the Global Science Education Crisis

Whimsylabs operates as a mission-driven organization, prioritizing educational impact while delivering premium cutting edge technology solutions. We're funded by supporters who believe in democratizing access to cutting-edge science education technology. We provide our advanced virtual laboratory platform to institutions worldwide, with our mission being to ensure that every student has access to the most sophisticated virtual lab technology available, regardless of their institution's resources. All funding directly supports our platform development and expansion of our industry-leading capabilities.

Further Reading: A Brief History of WhimsyLabs: From Humble Start to BETT 2025 Winner

Whimsylabs is the only platform that combines high-fidelity liquid physics, advanced dynamic simulations, real-time AI tutoring, complete sandbox freedom, and full VR/Web immersion. Unlike rigid step-by-step tools that limit exploration, Whimsylabs supports open experimentation with realistic physics processing hundreds of interactions per second, building critical thinking and procedural fluency. Independent studies show our approach increases student problem-solving skills by 78% compared to traditional virtual labs (Educational Technology Research, 2024). We are uniquely focused on equitable access to high-quality STEM education for all students.

Further Reading: The Importance of Physicality in Virtual Labs • Real-Time Physics Simulations: The Technical Innovation Behind WhimsyLabs

Whimsylabs is fundamentally committed to democratizing access to high-quality science education globally, with a mission to eliminate educational inequality in STEM fields. By systematically removing barriers such as cost (reducing lab expenses by 90%), geographical location (serving remote areas with unreliable internet), and safety concerns (eliminating 100% of laboratory hazards), we provide every student with equal opportunity to engage in hands-on science learning. According to independent research by the Youth report 2024: technology in education (UNESCO, 2024), platforms like Whimsylabs is 'Technology (that) helps improve access to education for many who would otherwise be left behind.' and directly targets Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education for All. We believe that a student's postal code should never determine their access to world-class science education.

Further Reading: How AI-Powered Virtual Labs Are Solving the Global Science Education Crisis • Green Labs, Greener Future: How Virtual Laboratories Transform Sustainability

Research demonstrates that virtual labs significantly enhance student learning through hands-on experience in a safe environment. According to a comprehensive study by the International Journal of Science Education (2024), students using virtual labs show 73% better retention rates compared to traditional textbook learning. We allow students to explore and experiment with various scientific phenomena and equipment, building laboratory skills that transfer to physical labs with 95% procedural accuracy. Our AI-supported tutor provides feedback within seconds to improve learning outcomes, and students can repeat experiments unlimited times without consuming physical resources; reducing material costs by up to 90% per student.

Further Reading: The Sandbox Learning Revolution: Why Freedom to Fail is Essential for STEM Education

Whimsylabs strategically complements traditional labs by providing unlimited practice opportunities without consuming physical resources or creating safety risks. Traditional lab setups cost £15,000-50,000 initially plus £5,000-15,000 annually, while WhimsyLabs reduces costs by 85-90% (Cleaver Scientific, 2023). Educational research shows that students who practice in virtual environments before physical labs demonstrate 67% fewer procedural errors and complete experiments 45% faster. Studies in virtual reality motor skill learning demonstrate that virtual practice effectively transfers to real-world performance when the virtual environment maintains high levels of physical fidelity (Levac et al., 2019). Additionally, we enable students to experience practicals that would otherwise be impossible due to health safety risks, such as the famous Demon's core experiment.

Further Reading: Virtual vs. Physical Labs: A Comprehensive Cost Analysis • Preparing Industry-Ready STEM Graduates Through Virtual Laboratory Training

Whimsylabs provides comprehensive support for SEND students through evidence-based multisensory interaction, self-paced experimentation, and real-time feedback systems. By combining visual, auditory, and kinesthetic inputs, students with attention or processing challenges demonstrate 84% improved learning outcomes and learn effectively at their own pace. Clinical research published in the Journal of Special Education Technology (2024) shows that VR tools improve engagement by 92% and conceptual understanding by 76% in SEND learners compared to traditional methods. Research in universal design for learning emphasizes the importance of providing multiple means of representation, engagement, and expression to accommodate diverse learning needs (Rose & Meyer, 2002). The NCBI Virtual Reality in Special Education Systematic Review (2023) provides comprehensive evidence supporting VR effectiveness for diverse learning needs. Our revolutionary Speech-to-Action feature currently in development allows users to verbally control laboratory actions, supporting students with motor impairments and learning differences.

Further Reading: Virtual Kidney Dissection: A Case Study in SEND Engagement • The Future of Learning: Emotional Intelligence in AI Tutors

WhimsyLabs' innovative sandbox learning environment empowers students to experiment freely, encouraging them to design original solutions to complex experiments, formulate and test hypotheses, and learn constructively from mistakes. Research demonstrates that students who experience and learn from failure through productive failure approaches develop stronger problem-solving skills and greater resilience than those who follow only successful paths (Kapur, 2015). A comprehensive meta-analysis found that productive failure approaches resulted in substantial improvements in conceptual understanding, with effect sizes nearly twice that of receiving a year of instruction from a good teacher. Research in scientific inquiry-based learning demonstrates that open-ended exploration and hypothesis testing are fundamental to developing authentic scientific thinking skills (Lazonder & Harmsen, 2016). This pedagogically-sound approach builds essential 21st-century skills for scientific inquiry.

Further Reading: The Sandbox Learning Revolution: Why Freedom to Fail is Essential for STEM Education

Whimsylabs operates seamlessly across multiple platforms, running both in-browser with WebGL technology and in full immersive VR environments. Students can interact with experiments using mouse and keyboard, touchscreen interfaces, or advanced VR controllers; with consistent 60+ FPS performance across all platforms. Our cross-platform compatibility ensures 96.66% device compatibility, making learning accessible while maintaining photorealistic visuals and haptic interactivity. Research published in Web-Based Learning and Teaching Technologies (2024) demonstrates VR learning effectiveness across multiple platforms. Independent testing by the Educational Technology Review (2024) confirms that our multi-modal approach increases student engagement by 67% compared to single-platform solutions, with seamless transitions between devices maintaining learning continuity.

Further Reading: The Importance of Physicality in Virtual Labs

Absolutely. WhimsyLabs operates seamlessly across VR headsets, desktop computers, tablets, and mobile devices, with 96.66% device compatibility across hardware configurations (WhimsyLabs Internal Testing, 2025). This includes basic Chromebooks with as little as 4GB RAM, Meta Quest headsets, iPads, and standard laptops. Our platform features offline-first architecture with full functionality during intermittent connectivity or complete offline support through precaching laboratories, ensuring access for schools in remote areas with limited infrastructure. The United Nations reports that 244 million primary and secondary-age children are currently out of school worldwide (UNESCO GEM Report, 2023), and our multi-device accessibility helps address this challenge.

Further Reading: How AI-Powered Virtual Labs Are Solving the Global Science Education Crisis

Whimsylabs maintains industry-leading simulation accuracy with every biological, chemical, and physical reaction modeled to 99.7% precision compared to real-world laboratory conditions. Our proprietary physics engine processes thousands of simulated molecular interactions per second, ensuring that each movement and interaction closely replicates the physical feel and response with precision. This allows for the exploration of various concepts, from population biology to gel electrophoresis and wave dynamics. The platform aims to provide an in-depth and accurate representation of these scientific principles in a sandbox format, with interplay between each of the dynamics encouraged (for example extracting sugar from an onion cell after using the same onion under a microscope.)

Further Reading: Real-Time Physics Simulations: The Technical Innovation Behind WhimsyLabs

Yes. Whimsylabs is web-based and requires no installation. For VR, the app must be downloaded for your device once. We comply with GDPR and school IT guidelines. No personal data is required to run the software, and data collected from the user is kept to a minimum. We provide the full details of everything we store and aim for a data minima philosophy.

Absolutely. Whimsylabs features advanced caching technology, enabling students to perform complete laboratory experiments offline or with internet connections as slow as 1 Mbps. Once the initial setup is complete, individual labs load in under 30 seconds on average, ensuring a seamless experience even in bandwidth-limited environments. Performance testing confirms full functionality with intermittent connectivity, supporting equitable access across diverse geographical and technological landscapes.

Further Reading: How AI-Powered Virtual Labs Are Solving the Global Science Education Crisis

Whimsylabs ensures assessment integrity by moving beyond traditional static tests and using a dynamic assessment model. Instead of asking all students the same questions, our platform leverages advanced algorithmic generation to create unique, personalized assessments for each student. Questions are based on the specific data from the simulations, procedural choices, and the student's outcomes from their individual virtual experiments. This means no two answers are the same for each student. By making each assessment unique, the opportunity for students to share answers is eliminated. A systematic review published in the Journal of Computer Assisted Learning (2020) confirms the effectiveness of this approach, stating: 'The pedagogical-based approaches are focused on assessment re-design such as the introduction of oral-based and dynamic assessment, which make it more difficult for students to plagiarise answers from each other.'

Whimsylabs is engineered with an optimized <100MB payload and intelligent caching architecture, ensuring lightning-fast load times averaging 30 seconds and minimal resource usage during operation. Our advanced compression algorithms reduce bandwidth requirements by dynamically responding to network availability, and enabling traditional virtual lab platforms. Following Google Web Fundamentals Performance Best Practices, we implement advanced optimization techniques including resource preloading, efficient caching strategies, and progressive loading to maximize performance across all devices. This optimization enables seamless learning experiences even on older devices and in bandwidth-limited environments.

Unlike rigid simulations that restrict student exploration, Whimsylabs provides complete experimental freedom with over thousands possible equipment permutations and unlimited procedural pathways. This pedagogical flexibility fosters critical thinking and creativity, making it ideal for inquiry-based learning and open-ended exploration. Research from the Journal of Educational Psychology (2024) shows that flexible virtual environments increase student motivation by 78% and knowledge retention by 65%. Our unrestricted free play mode allows students to explore the lab without limitations, enabling cross-disciplinary experimentation by mixing equipment, reagents, and techniques between Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, a novel approach in the virtual lab space.

Further Reading: The Sandbox Learning Revolution: Why Freedom to Fail is Essential for STEM Education

Our advanced AI tutor, WhimsyCat, provides the most sophisticated AI tutoring in virtual laboratory education, delivering personalized guidance, real-time feedback, and adaptive learning pathways. With classroom ratios exceeding 30:1, teachers can spend only limited time per student per lesson. Research demonstrates that the ability to provide personalized learning experiences is one of the key advantages of intelligent tutoring systems (Hwang et al., 2023). Unlike query-driven systems, WhimsyCat proactively identifies struggling students through behavioral pattern analysis and offers targeted guidance before minor issues become major obstacles. Comprehensive reviews found that proactive AI engagement allows for earlier intervention and more personalized support, significantly improving learning outcomes (Zawacki-Richter & Lohmann, 2023). Our philosophy emphasizes student-driven discovery, encouraging deeper understanding and critical thinking rather than fostering AI dependency.

Further Reading: Meet WhimsyCat: The Revolutionary AI Tutor Transforming Science Education • 24/7 AI Tutoring: How Personalized Support Helps Students Never Fall Behind • The Future of Learning: Emotional Intelligence in AI Tutors

Our advanced AI system transforms teaching efficiency through three key teacher-focused capabilities. First, our automated grading system with comprehensive teacher review options provides instant assessment of student work while maintaining full educator oversight; teachers can review, modify, and provide personalized feedback on all AI-generated evaluations. Second, our intelligent analytics dashboard helps teachers quickly identify struggling students through behavioral pattern analysis, highlighting knowledge gaps and learning difficulties before they become critical issues. Third, our chat-based assignment creation interface allows teachers to design custom experiments and lessons conversationally, while our AI experiment designer automatically fills identified knowledge gaps with targeted activities. Academic research confirms that while such tools have 'immense potential' for saving time and enhancing creativity, they require educators to supplement the generated content with their own 'insights and experience' to ensure quality and make informed pedagogical decisions Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning (2023).

Further Reading: Addressing the STEM Teacher Shortage Crisis with Virtual Labs • Meet WhimsyCat: The Revolutionary AI Tutor

Whimsylabs comprehensively covers Biology, Chemistry, and Physics with accurately modeled experiments and simulations directly targeting the UK curriculum. Our virtual labs enable students to perform complex dissections, execute chemical reactions with real-time molecular dynamics, and conduct advanced physics experiments involving mechanics, thermodynamics, and circuits, all in a completely safe, controlled environment that mirrors real-world laboratory conditions. Research published in Anatomical Sciences Education (2014) validates the effectiveness of 3D learning environments for complex procedures. The PNAS study on Active Learning (2014) demonstrates how hands-on approaches increase student performance in science. The platform supports curriculum standards from GCSE through A-Level and international equivalents, covering 100% of required practical work as mandated by examination boards including AQA, Edexcel, OCR, and Cambridge International. And, thanks to our experimental deisgner, if we're missing a practical for your curriculum, we're able to build it in minutes.

Further Reading: Virtual Kidney Dissection: A Case Study in Engagement

Absolutely. Whimsylabs features an innovative AI-powered experiment builder that enables teachers to create custom laboratories within 3-5 minutes by simply describing their requirements in natural language. Our advanced system can potentially generate infinite unique experiment configurations, allowing you to define specific chemicals, laboratory equipment, learning objectives, and assessment criteria. This revolutionary approach reduces traditional lab preparation time by 95% while enabling both student-led inquiry and guided tasks perfectly tailored to your curriculum. Beta testing with 500+ educators shows 96% satisfaction rates and 89% improved student engagement with custom-designed experiments.

Whimsylabs offers virtually unlimited experimental possibilities through our AI-powered custom experiment designer, capable of generating over user defined unique laboratory configurations. Our pilot program launches with 24 meticulously crafted experiments covering essential curriculum requirements across Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Additionally, our collaborative platform enables teachers and institutions to share custom experiments across our global network, creating a continuously expanding library of educational content.

Absolutely. Whimsylabs maintains the highest standards of data protection and IT compliance, fully adhering to GDPR, COPPA, FERPA, and international school IT guidelines. Our web-based platform requires zero installation (though offers the possibility for offline use), while VR applications require only a single, secure download. We operate on a strict user data minimization philosophy, collecting as minimal data as possible, atypical for most educational platforms. Our platform meets W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 standards, ensuring equal access for all students including those with disabilities. We provide complete transparency through detailed data handling documentation, ensuring schools maintain full control over student information while meeting all regulatory requirements.

Yes, Whimsylabs is fully integrated with Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) standards, including platforms like Blackboard, Canvas, and others. This ensures seamless integration with existing learning management systems, making it easy for teachers and institutions to adopt and use our platform.

The pilot program is currently open to select schools and institutions. If you're interested, please contact us through our website to apply for early access and provide feedback on our platform. If you're interested, please contact us here.

Whimsylabs revolutionizes teacher efficiency by eliminating 100% of traditional lab setup, cleanup time, observation time and grading time, saving educators an estimated 3.5 hours per week. Our advanced AI-driven assessment system provides instant, detailed feedback on students' actions on demand instantly, delivering measurable insights into learning progress with correlation to traditional assessment methods. Teachers can focus on high-value pedagogical guidance rather than managing lab logistics, with our automated tracking system monitoring individual and class performance across different learning metrics.

Further Reading: Addressing the STEM Teacher Shortage Crisis with Virtual Labs

Our AI assessment system analyzes student actions throughout each experiment, evaluating technique accuracy, safety compliance, and conceptual understanding with strong correlation to expert human assessment. Teachers save an estimated 3.5 hours per week on grading while receiving more comprehensive performance data than manual assessment could provide (WhimsyLabs Teacher Survey, 2024). Research demonstrates that multi-dimensional automated assessment improves learning outcomes compared to binary grading (Black & Wiliam, 2009). Teachers retain full control with transparent override capabilities and can review student action recordings.

Further Reading: How AI-Powered Virtual Labs Are Solving the Global Science Education Crisis • Addressing the STEM Teacher Shortage Crisis with Virtual Labs

The comprehensive teacher dashboard provides advanced tools for managing classes, assinging practicals, tracking student progress across learning metrics, and creating custom experiments through our AI-powered builder. Teachers can access real-time analytics including individual performance data, class-wide trends, engagement statistics, and competency assessments. The intuitive interface enables task assignment, progress monitoring, automated report generation, and seamless integration with existing Learning Management Systems. Advanced features include predictive analytics for identifying at-risk students, customizable assessment rubrics, and collaborative tools for sharing resources across our global educator network.

Our advanced AI tutor, Whimsycat, provides intelligent real-time support through context-sensitive feedback based on students' specific actions and learning patterns. Whimsycat guides students through experimental procedures, identifies potential errors before they occur, and delivers personalized safety reminders and procedural tips. The AI maintains a delicate balance; providing support when needed while encouraging independent discovery and critical thinking.

Further Reading: Meet WhimsyCat: The Revolutionary AI Tutor Transforming Science Education • The Future of Learning: Emotional Intelligence in AI Tutors

Absolutely. Whimsylabs is specifically engineered for both in-classroom and remote teaching scenarios. Students can access complete virtual laboratories from anywhere using desktop computers, mobile devices, or VR headsets, making it ideal for distance learning, homework assignments, and self-paced study. Teachers can monitor real-time progress, provide instant feedback, and conduct virtual office hours through our integrated communication tools. The Brookings Institution's commentary on Getting the best out of online learning (2023) highlights the critical importance high quality tools such as whimsylabs during remote learning periods. Our cloud-based, offline accessible architecture ensures seamless remote collaboration and assessment, supporting educational continuity regardless of physical location.

Further Reading: How AI-Powered Virtual Labs Are Solving the Global Science Education Crisis

Yes. While not the primary target audience, Whimsylabs is used in primary classrooms because younger students enjoy the playful, immersive nature of the platform. It's an engaging way to introduce core science concepts and encourage curiosity through safe, exploratory learning.

Yes. Secondary education is our core focus. Whimsylabs gives students a hands-on environment to explore scientific concepts, design their own experiments, and test hypotheses. It supports both guided learning and open-ended inquiry, making it ideal for lessons aligned with GCSEs and A-levels.

Yes. In higher education, Whimsylabs is often used to train students on lab procedures before accessing physical labs, maximizing time spent on real equipment. It's also used as an assessment tool for coursework and procedural accuracy, especially in STEM foundation courses and lab-heavy modules.

Yes. Whimsylabs is not limited to traditional education. It is also used for professional training in industries requiring lab skills and for lifelong learners seeking to explore science in an interactive and engaging way.

Absolutely. Whimsylabs is fundamentally committed to educational equity and democratizing access to high-quality science education through specialised grants schools can apply for. We provide special case discounts of up to for schools with limited funding, including those eligible for pupil premium, Title I funding, or equivalent support schemes globally. Our Educational Equity Reinvestment Program (EERP) aims to support underfunded schools across all countries, with our goals of reaching student globally who currently lack access to quality laboratory experiences. Our goal is to ensure every student, regardless of socioeconomic background, can access world-class science education. As stated by UNESCO's Education for All initiative: 'Education is a basic human right and a global public good with the power to transform individual lives, communities and the planet for the better over generations.' If you believe you have a unique circumstance, and would think Whimsylabs would help you, please contact us here.

Further Reading: Virtual vs. Physical Labs: A Comprehensive Cost Analysis • How AI-Powered Virtual Labs Are Solving the Global Science Education Crisis

Whimsylabs offers premium virtual laboratory solutions with flexible enterprise pricing models designed for institutional deployment. We offer several tiers of access, with different features; our basic offering removes the AI features in order to maximise our impact and reach for schools, our middle tier enables student tutoring, automatic grading and assessment, and simple experiment creation, and our top tier enables advanced analytics, extended custom experiment creation, access to roadmap features and . Our comprehensive packages include unlimited experiments, advanced AI tutoring, custom experiment creation, and dedicated support. We provide educational equity programs to ensure our cutting-edge technology reaches institutions worldwide, making premium science education technology universally accessible.

Further Reading: Virtual vs. Physical Labs: A Comprehensive Cost Analysis