Tag: Science and Technology

Water on the Moon

B1 – Intermediate

The moon is nearest to the earth. It has no light of its own but shines at night by the reflected light of the sun. Several craters are found on the surface of the moon made by impact events.

NASA found out that the moon may have more amounts of water than we thought.

Let’s read the article below to learn more about this amazing news about water in the moon.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2010/201030-water-on-the-moon-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What things do you know about the moon?
  2. What experiments might take place on the moon?
  3. Why might permanent moon bases be important?
  4. What do you think about water existing on the moon?
  5. How important is space exploration?

Two-fifths of World’s Plants at Risk of Extinction

B1 – Intermediate

Plants are everywhere. They provide us with so many resources to survive and most importantly, they maintain the atmosphere. Plants play an important role in the discovery of new drugs/medicines even for life-threatening diseases.

What will happen if all plants become extinct?

Let’s read the article below to learn more about plants extinction.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2010/201002-plant-extinction-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of plants? How useful are they?
  2. What will happen as more and more plants become extinct?
  3. How serious an issue is food insecurity?
  4. Should we spend more money on genetically modifying plants? Why/why not?
  5. What do you think world leaders will do about this problem?

Brain-Hacking Computer Chip

B1 – Intermediate

Elon Musk, a tech pioneer, wants to develop a computer-to-brain technology in humans. An experiment has already been done on a pig. If this technology succeeds, we might be seeing superhuman powers in the near future.

Read this lesson more to find out more about putting a computer chip on human brains.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2008/200831-superhuman-powers-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on the potential of this technology?
  2. How do you feel about such technology?
  3. How can it change our lives?
  4. What would be the advantages and disadvantages of this technology?
  5. Do you think it’s possible for AI to cause destruction to humans?

Genetically Modified Mosquitoes

B1 – Intermediate

Mosquitoes are little creatures who thirst for blood and cause many life-threatening diseases. It is determined that both genders are equally responsible for transmitting various diseases by breeding and increasing population size.

Let’s read the article below to learn more about genetically-modified mosquitoes.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2008/200825-mosquitoes-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of releasing genetically-modified insects? What could go wrong with this experiment?
  2. How would you feel if the mosquitoes were released in your town?
  3. What do you know about mosquitoes? What do you do to avoid them?
  4. How dangerous are mosquitoes?
  5. Do you have any bad experiences with mosquitoes?

Transparent Toilets in Tokyo

B1 – Intermediate

Public toilets are places where one is obliged to ease oneself in unfamiliar surroundings. Almost all toilets in Japan are well-maintained and kept spotlessly clean to ensure the utmost comfort for all.

Let’s read the article below about public toilets in Japan.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2008/200821-the-tokyo-toilet-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Should public toilets be well-designed? Why / Why not?
  2. What do you think of a toilet with transparent walls?
  3. Should cities spend money on designing toilets? Why / Why not?
  4. Why do public toilets have a negative image? How can we make public toilets better?
  5. What are public toilets like in your country? Describe.

Gorilla Glass Toughest Smartphone Screen

B1 – Intermediate

Most people has a mobile phone. We take care of it because it is a very important device for us.

Every gadget owner’s worst fear is dropping their phone and breaking the glass on its screen. However, as technology advances, the glass used as material in making our mobile phone screens has also been improved a lot.

Read this lesson about the most durable smartphone screen.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2007/200728-smartphone-glass-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this news on tougher mobile phone screens?
  2. Have you ever dropped your smartphone and break its screen? What did you do when that happened?
  3. What other improvements or technology do you want to see in mobile phones?

Cuckoo Completes Epic Migration

B1 – Intermediate

Cuckoo birds are birds that are popular for their parenting skills. They have a habit of laying their eggs in the nests of other species and letting other birds raise their babies for them. Several weeks later, young cuckoos are ready to migrate and fly to Africa and find their real parents.

Read the article below and learn more about Cuckoo birds.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2005/200529-cuckoo-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you know about Cuckoo birds?
  2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word ‘cuckoo’?
  3. What do you think of migration? Where would you migrate to if you could?
  4. Where would you go if you traveled to 16 countries?
  5. What is your favorite bird and why?

How Venus Fly Traps Developed a Liking for Meat

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The Venus flytrap is a carnivorous plant that depends on meals of insects for them to survive in the soil where they are ingrained. They are very unique because of how they attract prey to draw closer and eventually get trapped as meals for these kind of plants. They are known to be plants with medicinal attributes as well. They were found out to be cure for stomach pain and eye troubles.

Read the article below and learn more about Venus Fly Traps.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2005/200517-venus-fly-trap.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you know about Venus fly traps?
  2. What do you think of carnivorous plants?
  3. Do you think carnivorous plants are useful?
  4. What are your favorite plants?
  5. What are other strange plants you know of?

Google Meet Video Conferencing Platform Improved

B1 – Intermediate

Video conferencing technology gives us the opportunity to communicate with our co-workers, friends, and family. It is changing rapidly over the past few years. Video conferencing is not only for business but also for education and healthcare. It boosts productivity, saves time, and reduces travel expenses.

Let’s read the article below.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2004/200429-google-meet.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. How is Google Meet helpful in education and healthcare and at work?
  2. What are some improvements in the Google Meet platform?
  3. What are your experiences video conferencing?
  4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of video conferencing?
  5. How did you communicate with your family and friends during lockdown? How has it changed since things went back to normal?

Hotel Guests Information Hacked

B1 – Intermediate

Hotels are your home away from home. You book hotels when you are on holiday or business trip. To do that, you need to give them your personal information including your credit card information. But what if those information were stolen from them?

Read the transcript and listen to the audio about a hotel chain’s hacking incident.

Hotel Guests Information – level 2

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this news?
  2. What can businesses do to protect themselves from hacking?
  3. Talk about other people or companies whose accounts/systems have been hacked.
  4. When is hacking good and bad?
  5. If you were to hack a person or company’s account or system, who or which would it be and why? What information would you like to see?