Tag: Science and Technology

Biocomputers

B1 – Intermediate

We are so close to seeing a fusion between humans and computers. Organoids are lab-grown tissues that are much like human organs. Bioengineers have successfully, though still in its early stages, built a cross between organoids and AI.

Read the article about biocomputers.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2312/231218-brainoware-biocomputer-4.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the noun ”merging” mean,“Humans and machines are closer to merging.”? Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and make a sentence using ‘merging’.
  2. What does “early stage” mean? “Brainoware is in its early stages, but can already do complex tasks like voice recognition.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and make a sentence using ‘early stage’.
  3. What does the phrase “proof-of-concept” mean? “A researcher said: “This is just proof-of-concept to show that we can do the job.” Use this term in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is a biocomputer?
  2. What is your opinion on this technology?
  3. What makes this invention important?
  4. What are some good uses of biocomputers? Can you think of more? 
  5. How about the disadvantages/challenges we have with it?

Starship Spacecraft Explodes

B1 – Intermediate

In the exciting world of space exploration, sometimes things don’t go as planned. Recently, the Starship spacecraft, a super-advanced space vehicle, faced a big problem—it exploded. This event is a reminder that exploring space is not easy, and it comes with challenges.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about SpaceX’s Starship explosions.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/starship-spacecraft-explodes-level-3/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “interplanetary” mean, “SpaceX’s Starship designed for lunar and interplanetary travel achieved its first spaceflight but experienced a failure minutes later.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “uncrewed“, “The rocket was launched from Texas and it aimed for a 90-minute uncrewed flight, intending to land in the Pacific near Hawaii.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “ground” mean? “The Federal Aviation Administration grounded the rocket for safety and environmental assessments.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Question:

  1. What is the purpose of SpaceX’s Starship rocket?
  2. Why do you think SpaceX continues to conduct tests even if there are failures?
  3. What are some potential challenges or risks associated with developing and testing rockets like Starship?
  4. How would you feel about being on a rocket like Starship, considering the recent test failures?
  5. Do you think space exploration, despite its challenges, is important for the future? Why / Why not?

Robots in Our Lives 

B1 – Intermediate

In today’s world, robots are no longer just a part of sci-fi stories—they’re here, right now, impacting how we live. From simplifying daily tasks to working side by side with us, these machines are reshaping our routines and the way we connect with the world.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about advanced robotics in our lives.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/robots-in-our-lives-level-3/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “throughout the ages” mean? “A new exhibition in London charts humanity’s fascination for robots throughout the ages – one model at the exhibition dates back to the 16th century. Almost three meters tall, Cygan, a celebrity robot of the fifties, is the display’s centerpiece.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does the word “enslave“ mean in this sentence, “Ben Russel, the curator, commented on people’s fear of robots ‘turning into terrifying things that enslave us all’ – he thinks that it is quite natural to be afraid of them, but he sees the chances of it actually happening as slim.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does the phrase “the chances of something happening as slim“ mean, “Ben Russel, the curator, commented on people’s fear of robots ‘turning into terrifying things that enslave us all’ – he thinks that it is quite natural to be afraid of them, but he sees the chances of it actually happening as slim.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What would society be like if robots took over our jobs?
  2. How are robots generally perceived? Are they seen more as helpful or potentially concerning? Elaborate.
  3. What could be some challenges or benefits of having humanoid robots in our homes?
  4. If you had a robot, what would you like it to do?

Spotify Not Banning AI-Made Music

B1 – Intermediate

Producing something creative like music is probably one thing that we think only humans can do. However, with the advancements of the technology, music can be made using artificial intelligence or AI too.

Read the article and know more about Spotify’s decision not to ban music produced by AI.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2309/230928-spotify-ai-music-1.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does ”auto-tune” mean? “This includes the auto-tune software that helps singers correct their pitch and add vocal effects.” Use this term in a sentence.
  2. What does “mimic” mean? “Mr. Ek did not like software for mimicking the voice of an artist.” Give 2 synonyms and use “mimic” in a sentence.
  3. What does “streaming site” mean, “Daniel Ek, the boss of the streaming site Spotify, has answered this question.”? Use this term in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree or disagree with Spotify’s decision not to ban AI-made music? Explain.
  2. Do you think we should worry about this problem now? Share your opinion.
  3. In general, what do you think about using AI in music?
  4. “Spotify deleted one song created by an AI platform. Software copied the voices of the singers Drake, and The Weeknd.” Do you agree with Spotify in deleting this song on their platform? Why or why not?
  5. What is one question or concern do you have about AI at the moment?

Sugar Doesn’t Make Kids Hyper

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Trick-or-treating gets more popular as the spooky season draws near and kids roam the neighborhood gathering sweets. Sadly, many kids become very hyper after eating the collected sweets. One might conclude that sugar is causing this effect. However, a number of researches challenge the notion of sugar rush.

Watch the video to learn more about hyperactivity, which apparently, has nothing to do with consuming sugary treats.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What’s the meaning of “to put something to bed”? “And today, we’re putting this long-standing food myth to bed.” Make a sentence using this idiom.
  2. What does “to keep something in check” mean? “Glucagon’s job is to tell our bodies to release some of our stored-up sugar supplies to balance out our blood sugar levels. Our bodies are extremely good at keeping these things in check when they’re healthy.” Use this idiom in a sentence.
  3. What does “to bounce off the walls” mean? “But as you get older, the season’s less about TPing* the house of that one neighbor that gives away healthy apples and toothbrushes during trick-or-treating and more about dreading your five-year-old bouncing off the walls after consuming half of their body weight in Kit Kats.” Create your own sentence using this expression.

*TP stands for ‘toilet paper’ which means to cover (trees, buildings, etc.) with toilet paper as a prank.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree to the theory presented in this video? Explain.
  2. Have you experienced the sugar rush effect mentioned in this video? Talk about that instance.
  3. What were your thoughts about children becoming hyperactive after taking/eating sugary foods before seeing this video?
  4. What might be reasons many people turn to sugary food when they feel tired?
  5. Are you aware of how your body reacts to food and how it relates to the prevailing knowledge in society? Cite concrete examples.

Albino Whale in Mexico 

B1 – Intermediate

In the watery realms of the ocean, extraordinary occurrences often surprise and amaze us. One such marvel is the presence of albino creatures, which can be found in a range of animals, both on land and in the sea. While this natural anomaly is not unusual among mammals, birds, and reptiles, it remains a rare spectacle when it comes to marine life.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about albino whales.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/albino-whale-in-mexico-level-1/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “albino” mean? “Albino skin sometimes happens in animals and in humans. People see it in mammals, birds, and reptiles. It happens because their skin does not have colour.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “rarely” mean? “It happens because their skin does not have colour. It rarely happens in marine mammals.” Give 2 synonyms and use “rarely” in a sentence.
  3. What does “marine” mean in this sentence, “Albino skin sometimes happens in animals and in humans. People see it in mammals, birds, and reptiles. It happens because their skin does not have colour. It rarely happens in marine mammals.“? Use ‘marine’ in the same context and give one other meaning of this word.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are some other examples of natural anomalies or unique occurrences in the animal kingdom that you’ve heard of or read about?
  2. Do you think it’s important for people to learn about and appreciate the diversity of life in the ocean, even rare occurrences like albino whales? Why or why not?
  3. Can you think of other real-life examples in nature where animals with unique characteristics or appearances have played an important role in their ecosystems?

Put your Phone on Airplane Mode

B2 – Upper Intermediate

If you are a frequent flyer, you have probably heard the cabin crew’s announcement to switch off your mobile phone or atleast put it on airplane mode for the duration of the flight. They expect the passengers to follow this rule without necessarily providing ample details for doing so.

Watch the video and be informed as to why our mobile phones should be on airplane mode when we are flying.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of the word “interference” in this context? “At least your special eyes would be able to see this if the sky wasn’t flooded with interference from routers, satellites, and of course, people flying who haven’t put their phones on airplane mode.” Use it in your own sentence.
  2. Define the phrasal verb “drown out“. “Since planes travel so quickly, the phones might find themselves much closer to a cell tower than expected; blasting it with a massive signal that drowns out those on the ground.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  3. What does the phrasal verb “blot out” mean? “This leads consumers to pay for more bandwidth, pushing service providers to take over more of the radio spectrum, and eventually, send more satellites into the sky — creating a vicious cycle that could eventually blot out the stars.” Use this phrase in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the benefits of putting your phone on airplane mode when you are on a plane?
  2. What are the dangers of not putting your phone on airplane mode?
  3. Do you think airline companies should stop offering wi-fi connection on a plane? Why or why not?
  4. Do you put your phone on airplane mode every time you fly? Are there other situations where you do the same?

Drones Deliver Letters

B1 – Intermediate

Over time, technology has rapidly advanced. Robots now handle tasks and jobs once done only by humans. For instance, the U.K. has just introduced its very first drone delivery service for letters.

Read the article or listen to the audio to learn about U.K.’s drone delivery service.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/drones-deliver-letters-level-3/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “aim to” mean? “The Orkney I-Port initiative, in collaboration with Royal Mail and drone company Skyports, aims to transport letters and packages between islands.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  2. What does “remote” mean in this context? “This innovation is expected to enhance delivery speed and reliability to remote areas like Graemsay and Hoy, often affected by weather and geography disruptions.”
  3. Define “initiative“. “The Orkney I-Port initiative, in collaboration with Royal Mail and drone company Skyports, aims to transport letters and packages between islands.” Make a sentence with this word.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about the idea of using drones to deliver mail in remote areas like Orkney?
  2. How would you feel if a drone delivery service for mail and packages was introduced in your local area?
  3. Do you think the use of drones for deliveries will become more common in the future? Why or why not?
  4. In your opinion, what are some potential advantages and disadvantages of using fully electric drones for deliveries?
  5. Can you think of any other innovative ways technology could improve services like mail delivery?

Artificial Intelligence to Create Jobs in Gaming

B1 – Intermediate

Artificial intelligence (AI) has helped the gaming sector advance so much. If AI can put an end to many jobs, works in gaming are not one of them.

Read this article about how the gaming sector can benefit from the advancements in AI.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2307/230724-ai-gaming-jobs-4.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “body” mean in this context, “A UK games body said gaming is always at “the cutting edge of technology”.” Use the word in this context in your own sentence.
  2. What does “safeguard” mean, “Hollywood actors are on strike demanding safeguards against AI.” Use the word in a sentence.
  3. What does ”cutting edge” mean, “A UK games body said gaming is always at “the cutting edge of technology”.”? Give a synonym and use ‘cutting edge’ in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is AI beneficial or not? Explain.
  2. How is AI helpful to the gaming sector?
  3. What do you think of a profession in the gaming sector?

Microscopic Handbag

B1 – Intermediate

For so many years, miniaturization has been done on different things. This means products are made smaller and smaller. One example is our mobile phones and computers.

More recently, mini bags have been in fashion. However, what do you think about a bag that is microscopic?

Read the article about a handbag that is one of the latest miniaturized things.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2307/230703-microscopic-handbag-4.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Define “miniaturize”, “The latest miniaturized thing is a handbag.” Use this word in your own sentence.
  2. What does “trend” mean, “This trend led to the mobile phone.”? Use this word in your own sentence.
  3. What does ”______-inspired” mean, “The art group MSCHF created the Louis Vuitton-inspired bag.”? Use this word in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on miniaturizing things?
  2. What are the good and bad things about miniaturization?
  3. What do you think of this miniature handbag? Would you buy this bag for $63,000? Why or why not?
  4. The chief creative officer of MSCHF thought the bag was funny because handbags are usually highly functional, but it is now an item of jewelry. What is your opinion on this?
  5. What other things do you want to be miniaturized and why?