DUST is a new alternative-reality game designed to teach students 13-17 years old about STEM inquiry.  This collaborative online experience launched last week and will play out over the next seven weeks.  In its fictional world, students are charged with solving the mystery of why a meteor shower has caused adults around the world to collapse.  DUST was created by the National Science Foundation, Brigham Young University, and the University of Maryland.  Students can register at fallingdust.com, and adults can register at the same site either as passive observers or as active participants using pseudonyms.  There’s a start-up kit for educators, which includes a Read Me First document, introductory presentation, and lesson plans linked to NGSS and Common Core standards.  An educator’s website is at dustgame.byu.edu.