As high school students, we often imagine that the world revolves around us and our school. Thus, as summer vacation commences every year, it’s easy to assume the mindset that, with school on pause, the rest of the world is as well.

However, as we all know,  significant political, scientific, and cultural developments are still happening every week. Nevertheless, it’s hard to keep pace with these summer happenings when we’re sleeping in until 3PM.

And just in case you took the last three months off from the rest of the world, read below to make sure you aren’t caught by surprise.

June

6/7/17 – Scientists find evidence from fossil remains in Africa that Homo sapiens may have originated over 300,000 years ago, 100,000 years earlier than previously thought.

6/20/17 – North Korea releases Otto Warmbier, an American prisoner, who dies at home two days later. Warmbier was detained while visiting North Korea, accused of stealing a propaganda poster, and was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor. He fell into a coma shortly after his trial.

6/30/17 – The German parliament (The Bundestag) votes in favor (393-226) of legalizing same-sex marriage, as well as the adoption of children by same-sex couples. Although Merkel votes no herself, her earlier comments help bring about the vote.

July

7/2/17 – Over 1.5 million people plant over 66 million trees in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh over a span of 12 hours, setting a new world record for reforestation. The previous record was 50 million trees over 24 hours, held by Uttar Pradesh, another Indian state.

7/12/17 – “Day of Action” – A record 9 million comments are filed with the FCC regarding the recent attempt to end net neutrality. Organized by Google, Amazon, and other tech companies, the initiative is centered on the goal of preventing a rollback of 2015 laws that regulated internet providers.

7/20/17 – Chester Bennington, the lead singer of rock band Linkin Park, is found dead at 41. The cause of death is ruled as a suicide.

7/26/17 – Via Twitter, President Trump announces a ban on transgender enlistees in the US military.

7/27/17 – The Republican bill dictating a “skinny repeal” of Obamacare is shot down in the Senate after Sen. John McCain, who had just returned from a brain cancer diagnosis and surgery, votes against party lines.

August

8/12/17 – Scientists discover 91 volcanoes beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, making it the biggest volcanic region on Earth

8/18/17 – Steve Bannon leaves his White House post of Chief Strategist following controversy amisdst the Charlottesville protests.

8/26/17 – As many predicted, Floyd Mayweather defeats Connor McGregor to advance to a 50-0 boxing record. Mayweather announces his retirement for good, while McGregor has no such plans to hang up the gloves.