The Summer Research Roundup: 5 Science Reads and the Latest STEM News
The Summer Research Roundup: 5 Science Reads and the Latest STEM News
Summer is finally here, and if you're an educator, that means you've made it. Before the planning for next year kicks into full gear, we hope you take a little time to recharge. To help with that, we've rounded up the latest STEM news, along with a reading list that's equal parts enriching and entertaining. Whether you're a poolside reader or a front-porch one, there's something here for you.
Your Summer Science (& Sci-Fi) Reading List
Summer is also the perfect time to dive into a book that makes the world feel bigger, stranger, and more wonderful. Here are five picks, spanning biology, medicine, ecology, and animal behavior, that are equally great for educators looking to deepen their content knowledge and for curious readers of all kinds.
- Ocean: Earth's Last Wilderness by Sir David Attenborough & Colin Butfield
Drawing on personal stories, history, and cutting-edge science, this book explores eight unique ocean habitats from kelp forests and coral reefs to the deepest, least-explored corners of our planet, and makes the case for how critical the ocean is to the survival of life on Earth. It also highlights the ocean's remarkable resilience, documenting how marine environments can and in some cases already have recovered when given the chance. With strong connections to earth science, ecosystems, climate, and environmental stewardship, it's a timely and visually rich read for educators at any level. [LEARN MORE] - Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy by Mary Roach
Mary Roach brings her signature blend of rigorous research and accessible storytelling to the science of the human body by exploring what breaks down, what can be replaced, and what the latest advances in medicine mean for the future of human health. Well-suited for life science educators and a great option for students who enjoy science told through narrative. [LEARN MORE] - The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth by Zoë Schlanger
Drawing on years of science reporting, Schlanger explores emerging research on how plants sense, communicate, and respond to their environments in ways that challenge long-held assumptions about intelligence and awareness. It pairs well with units on ecosystems, adaptation, and the nature of scientific inquiry, and offers a fresh perspective on topics that can feel familiar in the classroom. [LEARN MORE] - An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us by Ed Yong
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ed Yong examines how different animals experience the world through their unique sensory systems, from the magnetic navigation of migratory birds to the electroreception of fish. The book opens up rich conversations about biodiversity, adaptation, and the limits of human perception, with clear connections to biology, neuroscience, and environmental science standards. [LEARN MORE] - Bonus: Science Fiction Pick - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
A note on this one: it's fiction, but it's grounded in real science. Weir's novel follows a lone astronaut who wakes up far from Earth, with no memory of his mission, and must use his scientific knowledge to piece together his situation and devise a plan to save humanity. What distinguishes it from typical science fiction is the care Weir takes with the underlying science; readers encounter genuine chemistry, biology, and orbital mechanics woven naturally into the story. A great recommendation for students who may not yet see themselves as science readers. [LEARN MORE]
Recent STEM News & Discoveries
- More pupils get chance to design and build go-carts
via BBC
A program called STEM on Track, which started at Hautlieu College in the UK, gives students the chance to design, build, and market their own go-karts, then race them at a Formula One track. It's now expanding to Mont à L'Abbé School, which serves students with special educational needs, with hopes to bring it to Guernsey as well. One of the students driving the expansion said it best: something like this can feel like it's only for certain kids, but everyone deserves a shot at it. [LEARN MORE] - What’s Up: June 2026 Skywatching Tips from NASA
via NASA Science
Around June 9th, Venus and Jupiter will appear strikingly close together after sunset. Mercury joins them from June 11th through the 15th, and on June 17th, skywatchers in parts of the U.S., Canada, Brazil, and Venezuela can catch the Moon passing directly in front of Venus. The summer solstice arrives on June 21st, bringing the year's longest days and some of the best deep-sky viewing. NASA's full June skywatching guide is a great resource to share with students or just bookmark for yourself. [LEARN MORE] - NASA’s 2026 Lunabotics: Winning Student Teams Engineering Lunar Future
via NASA
Last week at Kennedy Space Center, college students from across the country competed in NASA's 2026 Lunabotics Challenge, designing, building, and testing robots capable of excavating simulated lunar soil. The University of Virginia took home the top prize, in part because when one of their robot's wheels broke mid-run, the team reconfigured it on the spot and kept going. That kind of problem-solving under pressure is exactly what NASA is looking for as it works toward a permanent Moon Base. One detail worth sharing with students: the number of fully autonomous robots in the competition jumped from 12 last year to 27 this year. The next generation of engineers is already here.[LEARN MORE]
Here's to a Great Summer
We hope this Research Roundup gives you something to look forward to, whether that's a clear night sky, a good book, or just the reminder that science is happening everywhere, all the time. At Activate Learning, we're grateful for the work you do and excited to keep supporting your science teaching journey in the year ahead. Enjoy the break… you've earned it.
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