Tag: Science and Technology

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?

AI Chatbots ChatGPT and Google Bard

B1 – Intermediate

Chatbots are computer programs used to simulate chat with a human user. The latest chatbot to become more popular is ChatGPT. When a user asks something on ChatGPT, it can answer almost every question you ask it and with perfect grammar. It’s like you are really talking to another person.

Google didn’t waste time and launched its own version called Google Bard. 

It has now become a race for the best AI chatbot in town between Google and Microsoft.

Read the article on the AI chatbot battle between ChatGPT and Google Bard.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2302/230213-chatgpt-chatbot-4.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does ”hot on the heels of sb/sth” mean, ”Hot on the heels of ChatGPT came Google’s Bard.”? Use this expression in your own sentence.
  2. What does the expression “to spread like wildfire” mean, “A new online revolution has begun and is spreading like wildfire.” Use this idiom in your own sentence.
  3. What does “shake up” mean, “There are many questions about how chatbots will shake up our world.” Use this phrase in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Google Bard? Would you use such programs?
  2. What are the uses and dangers of such AI chatbots?
  3. How is this going to change our lives/societies?
  4. Share your opinion on this: “Teachers are worrying about “the end of homework”. 
  5. Do you agree or disagree that “AI can deepen our understanding of information and turn it into useful knowledge making it easier for people to get things done.”? Explain.

Transhumanism

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Embedding a chip to unlock doors, store personal medical data, and getting smart contact lenses to record video by blinking are only some of the things transhumanists do to alter their body.

Watch the video and learn about the technological advances that have already altered the medical industry.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does hasten mean, “There are some however who would not only rejoice at it, but want to hasten the day it arrives.”? Use this word in your own sentence.
  2. What does supersede mean, “Transhumanists look forward to a future in which Homo sapiens is superseded by a better, smarter, fitter model- humanity 2.0.”? Use this word in your own sentence.
  3. What does dire mean, “Humans are in dire need of improvement.”? Use this word in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on transhumanism?
  2. Share your opinions on the possibility of being able to leave our ‘fragile human bodies’ behind and upload ourselves to computers and be able to live forever in the virtual world.
  3. Do you have any wearable devices that help you track your activities, for example, sleep patterns or steps? Do you analyze the information you receive from them?
  4. Would you be ready to try only those biohacking techniques that have been proven or would you go for something completely innovative?
  5. Should people be worried about the fact that such experiments can completely transform humans?

Goosebumps

B1 – Intermediate

Goosebumps are a physical sensation of small bumps or shivers on the skin, often caused by very strong emotions like cold, fear, or excitement. The term is commonly used to describe a reaction to a scary or suspenseful situation. Goosebumps in animals serve as an adaptive mechanism for survival, helping them regulate their body temperature, and defend themselves.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about goosebumps:

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/goosebumps-level-3/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “involuntary” mean, “These bumps are an involuntary response to intense emotions.”? Use the word in a sentence.
  2. What is the meaning of the word “spark“, “They are the result of an adrenaline rush sparked by an extreme emotion.”? Make one sentence using this word.
  3. What is “adrenaline rush“, “They are the result of an adrenaline rush sparked by an extreme emotion.”? Use the phrase in one sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. When do you usually get goosebumps and why?
  2. What are the several purposes of goosebumps to animals?
  3. Have you seen animals that got goosebumps? What happened?
  4. Share an experience when you suddenly had goosebumps and why it happened.
  5. What are other humans’ reactions to intense emotions?

Milk from Lab

B1 – Intermediate

Lab-grown milk, is a type of milk that is produced using cells harvested from cows instead of being obtained directly from cows. The cells are grown in a controlled environment, such as a lab, and are then combined with nutrients to create a milk-like substance.

The goal of lab-grown milk is to provide a more sustainable and ethical alternative to traditional dairy farming, which can have negative impacts on the environment and animal welfare.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about laboratory-produced dairy products.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/milk-from-lab-level-3/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of the word, “alternative“? Use the word in a sentence.
  2. What does “plant-based” mean? Make one sentence using this word.
  3. What does “genetically modified microbes” mean? Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the pros and cons of lab-produced milk?
  2. Do you drink milk? If so, what kind of milk do you consume and why?
  3. How do you feel about Lab Milk? Would you be willing to try or consume it? Why or why not?
  4. Do you think it could replace traditional dairy and become the milk of the future? Share your opinion about this.

Artificial Womb Facility

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Science has made it possible for humanity to advance significantly, as evidenced by the developments in delivery technology.

The first concept for artificial wombs has just been unveiled, showing an unthinkable way for humans to give birth in these pods.

However, this recent breakthrough has sparked much controversy, making many people afraid of its ramifications for the future.

To find out more about artificial wombs, let us watch this video.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is meant by “comfort of your zone“? “You can track your baby’s health from the comfort of your zone.” Use it in your own sentence.
  2. What is the meaning of “haptic“? “Using a wireless haptic suit connected to your baby’s growth pod, you will be able to sense their kicks in the womb.” Use it in your own sentence.
  3. What exactly is a “bioreactor“? “The second bioreactor is designed to eliminate any waste products created by the babies.” Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your initial thoughts about such growth pods?
  2. Do you believe that science has gone too far with this kind of tech? Explain your thoughts.
  3. In your opinion, what are the worst and best parts of an artificial womb facility?