The mobile science lab's 2026 tour kicked off in March, traveling all over South Africa and across the border into Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, and — a new inclusion this year — Zambia.
The 2026 Curiosity Cube educational experience ran under the theme Synthetic Biology, teaching children about the applications and ethics behind genetic modification.
Visiting classes were split into three groups and rotated through separate stations, where volunteers (often science students from the hosting university) would deliver a quick lesson on the topic and activity, before kids engaged with the interactive portion.
At one station, children learned about DNA and its makeup, how specific molecules connect and work together to produce different attributes and functions, and how genetic editing can be used to change DNA and repair faulty genes.
The kids were then tasked to build their own DNA strand using special blocks that would either glow, move or both when connected in a particular sequence.
Another station explained how scientists can use gene splicing to alter plants to make them resistant or tolerant to certain conditions. The ethics surrounding such modification was also discussed.
Kids then used a small buttoned console to answer a multiple choice quiz about what they'd just learned.
The third station was a lesson on enzymes and substrates and their role in breaking down foods. Children learned how those with food sensitivities and allergies lack certain enzymes.
The interactive component was a magnetic 3D puzzle, where learners built a "lock and key" enzyme.
Plans are already in the works for next year, which will see the celebration of the Curiosity Cube initiative's 10th anniversary. The theme will be Healthcare, Life Science and Electronics, highlighting Merck's core business.
For more information on the Curiosity Cube, university partnerships or school visit requests, visit: https://thecuriositycube.com/
