September 25, 2025

Big news for brain science! Researchers at UCLA and the International Brain Laboratory have built the first almost-complete activity map of the mouse brain—tracking over half a million neurons across 279 regions while the mice made decisions. The surprising find? Decision-making and expectations aren’t tucked into one “control center”, but light up brain-wide, giving scientists a whole new way to think about how the mind works. Dive into this fascinating neurological breakthrough here.

A family of beavers in the Czech Republic just pulled off what human planners couldn’t—building a dam and saving the government $1.2 million! Their natural engineering skills didn’t just get the job done—they created new wetlands that are now buzzing with birds, frogs, and all kinds of wildlife. Experts say these beavers might just be better planners than we are—proof that sometimes, nature knows best! Read the full article here.

Students can dive into real-world problem solving with Assembly Line, a DiscoverE challenge that turns the classroom into a mini manufacturing floor. Using simple materials like paper, markers, and rulers, teams design, test, and refine their own assembly line—racing to produce as many quality “bricks” as possible in just 10 minutes. Try this activity here!

Join the Hip Hop M.D., Maynard Okereke for a conversation with Dr. Jessica Frick. She’s a Microgravity Chemist & Materials Scientist who is using microgravity as a tool to pioneer the manufacturing of semiconductors in space! Watch the episode and explore free resources and the lesson plan here. Check out the lesson plan in PocketLab for free!

From astronaut health and Moon-and-Mars habitats to creative STEAM projects like nebula art or moon-model building, there’s something for every age and interest. Educators and families can tap into free toolkits and hands-on lesson plans, complete with videos, quizzes, and ready-to-use activities. Check out the free resources here!

Learn what it's like to be a space engineer and planetary defender at NASA with engineer Joan Melendez Misner. Watch the episode and explore free resources and the lesson plan here. Check out the lesson plan in PocketLab for free!

Earth Science Week offers a wide range of classroom activities for grades K–12, covering topics like the atmosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and more. Each hands-on lesson is aligned with science standards and designed to spark curiosity through experiments and investigations. Check out the free resources here!

Join zookeeper and wildlife educator Jordan Veasley alongside tropical biologist and host of Discovery Channel’s Expedition X, Phil Torres, for an exciting exploration of their animal-filled careers. Watch the episode and explore free resources and lesson plans here. Check out the lesson plans here and here in PocketLab for free! 

Celebrate Nuclear Science Week by exploring the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History’s classroom resources. These tools help educators bring nuclear science and history to life in the classroom through hands-on and digital activities. Check out the free resources here!

Dr. Ciara Sivels is a nuclear engineer at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, who studies the properties of atoms to solve complex problems. Watch the episode and explore free resources and the lesson plan here. Check out the lesson plan in PocketLab for free!