The most popular science textbooks used in US middle schools are full of mistakes, according to a new report. The 12 most popular textbooks, which are used to teach science to 85 per cent of 10-13 year olds across America, were put under scrutiny during a two-year study.

College professors and teachers joined the research team which was led by John Hubisz, professor of physics at North Carolina State University. "These are terrible books, and they're probably a strong component of why we do so poorly in science," Hubisz said.

Mistakes ranged from a map showing the equator passing through the southern United States to an incorrect rendering of Newton's first law of physics.