Tag: Science and Technology

Scientists Start Search for Extra-Terrestrial Life

B1 – Intermediate

E.T. stands for Extra-Terrestrial. Back in the 80s, a film became very famous. It is a story of an alien who was left behind on Earth, found by a little human boy and the two eventually become the best of friends.

More than three decades later, scientists have started working on finding more signs of alien life. 

Read the article below to know why scientists are interested to know more about the possibility of life in space.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2002/200217-extraterrestrial-life-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on the fact that scientists are spending time and money on this subject?
  2. What are your thoughts on E.T?
  3. What pieces of evidence that aliens exist do you know of?
  4. What would you do if you found out aliens really exist?
  5. Talk about films about aliens you know about or have watched.

Stress Causes Graying Hair

B1 – Intermediate

It is said that our hair is our crowning glory. Sooner or later, that crown will start to gray and we face a decision whether to dye it or maintain that silver hair color.

Read the article below to know what causes our hair to turn gray and be able to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2001/200126-grey-hair-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree that stress is one of the main causes of going gray?
  2. Do you have gray hair? If so, are you worried about it? What are you going to do when all your hair turn gray?
  3. How do you keep your hair looking good and at its best?
  4. How do you deal with stress?

This Device Fights Phone Addiction

B1 – Intermediate

Some students at the University of Indonesia are working on an iteration of a device that monitors signs of smartphone addiction.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript to learn more about “Nettox”.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/indonesians-make-device-to-fight-phone-addiction/5156493.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does Nettox work? What do you think of this device?
  2. Why are smartphones and mobile apps addictive?
  3. Is it possible to live without a smartphone and social media in this day and age? Why or why not?
  4. In your opinion, at what age should a child be given their first smartphone?
  5. What are other ways to avoid phone addiction?

Satellites for Worldwide Internet

B1 – Intermediate

A company has launched satellites to make Internet accessible in more places in the world. This can change many people’s lives. However, not everyone is happy about this news.

Read on this news for more information on this satellite project.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1903/190304-worldwide-internet-4.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you think about this news?
2. Why are some countries not happy with this?
3. Why is it necessary to be connected to the internet?
4. What do you use the internet for?
5. Should everyone be connected to the internet? Why or why not?

Night Vision

B1 – Intermediate

Scientists have given mice the ability to see in the dark. Cells found in mice’s retinas are also found in humans. Researchers hope that one day humans may be able to see in the dark.

Let’s read the article to know how these rodents were able to see better in the dark.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1903/190306-night-vision.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What did scientists inject into the mice’s eyes?
2. How long did the effects of injections last?
3. What do you think of this research?
4. Would you like to be able to see in the dark? Why or why not?
5. What is your opinion on technologies like this that give humans abilities that are beyond what’s normal?

Throw in the Towel

B2 – Upper Intermediate

When things don’t turn out the way you wanted them to be despite your hard work and determination, quitting is probably something you would consider to do next. For some, quitting is not in their vocabulary. Is it really that bad to just give up? Are some dreams just aren’t worth chasing?

Read this lesson about the expression “throw in the towel”.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the-english-we-speak/ep-181119

Discussion Questions:

1. What does “throw in the towel” mean?

2. When is it right to give up? Do you think twice before doing so?

3. What do you do when you feel like giving up?

4. Share your own experience wherein you had to throw in the towel.

How Do Vampire Bats Survive on Blood?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you ever wondered how vampire bats live? Scientists have recently discovered how these “flying mice” can survive on a blood-only diet.

Watch the video to find out more about these creatures and also learn some vocabulary associated with their “bloody” lifestyle.

Discussion Questions:

1. According to the video, how do vampire bats live only on blood?

2. What comes to mind when you hear the words “vampire”, “bats” and “blood”?

3. Do you know of any vampire legends/folk stories from your country? Tell us about them.

Cryogenic Freezing

C1 – Advanced

Cryogenic freezing is a technique used to store a person’s body at an extremely low temperature with the hope of one day reviving it. If someone has died from a disease or condition that is currently incurable, they can be “frozen” and then revived in the future when a cure has been discovered. This technique is already being performed today, but the technology behind it is still in its infancy.

The idea of preserving a person’s body at very low temperatures in the hope that it will be restored by future medical technology has been a staple of science fiction. But could cryonics be a genuine way of being brought back to life years into the future?

Watch the video and be able to answer the questions that follow:

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the video, how is the cryonic process performed?
  2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of cryogenic freezing?
  3. How do you feel about cryogenic freezing?
  4. Would you undergo such process in the hope of finding a cure to your incurable disease?

Designer Babies

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A designer baby is one whose genetic makeup has been selected in order to get a particular trait or remove a particular defect in the baby’s gene. It has become an increasingly popular procedure since it helps couples with infertility-related issues. The practice pre-selects before implantation. This procedure allows couples to screen viable embryos for various genetic traits, such as potential diseases the embryo could have and other traits that the embryo would likely attain before implanting them into the mother’s womb.

Since this has been created, it has caused uproar throughout the scientific community as to whether it is an ethical procedure or not. There are many questions that have been brought up, but these are very difficult to answer. Should there be designers babies?

Watch the video and be ready to answer the questions that follow:

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of Designer Babies?
  2. What are the benefits and drawbacks of pre-implantation genetic screening?
  3. Would you be willing to undergo this procedure? Why or why not?

Is This the Safest Place in the World?

C1 – Advanced

Climate change is a hotly debated topic in many nations across the world. For some, the impact of this phenomenon is something to be seriously dealt with. This is why a group of concerned individuals built a special vault in order to prepare for climate change and it’s consequences.

Watch the video below to find out more.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is this special vault for? Describe what it looks like.
  2. Do you think that this vault is necessary? Why or why not?
  3. Can you think of other extreme measures that people are trying to do in order to battle climate change?