News · Reading, language and ideas
News English
Understand the world. Find the words to talk about it.
Short news stories, useful English and a fresh reason to practise every day.
A1 · A2 · B1 · B2 · C1 · C2
Your daily English habit
One story. Something new to say.
Choose a level and read for the main idea. Use the word help when you need it.
Test your understanding and learn from the answer explanations.
Give your opinion aloud, on your own or with a tutor. Use the model to help.
The story collection
Read something interesting
New stories daily · Different levels throughout the week
91 stories available.
Similar patterns, different outcomes
Compare El Niño observations and practise cautious conclusions.
Photo: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC · NASA editorial image reuse (cropped)
A new shape for flying
Read about experimental helicopter blades and compare designs.
Photo: NASA · NASA educational and informational reuse (cropped)
An astronaut at work
Describe an astronaut and practise the present continuous.
Photo: NASA/Anil Menon · NASA educational and informational reuse (cropped)
Can a white dwarf look green?
Explore a new astronomy explanation and practise distinguishing a general pattern from an exception.
Photo: NASA, ESA; H. Bond (STScI), M. Barstow and M. Burleigh (University of Leicester), J. B. Holberg (University of Arizona) · NASA educational and informational reuse (cropped)
A different kind of class
Read about unusual university courses and explain what you would like to study.
Photo: Paul The Writer · CC0 public domain (cropped)
Smoke over an island
Describe smoke, land and sea in a satellite picture.
Photo: NASA Earth Observatory/Michala Garrison; NASA EOSDIS LANCE, GIBS/Worldview and JPSS · NASA educational and informational reuse (cropped)
A zone, not just a line
Read a new NASA research report and practise explaining possibilities without turning them into certainties.
Photo: NASA · NASA educational and informational reuse (cropped)
Testing a vehicle for the Moon
Read about rover testing and explain what a tool is for.
Photo: NASA/Helen Arase Vargas · NASA educational and informational reuse (cropped)
A big curve of clouds
Read about a dated storm image and describe where things are.
Photo: NASA Earth Observatory/Michala Garrison; VIIRS: NASA EOSDIS LANCE, GIBS/Worldview and JPSS · NASA educational and informational reuse (cropped)
Following water with gravity
Explore a new water-storage analysis and practise contrasting evidence with its limits.
Photo: ISS Expedition 65 crew/NASA Johnson Space Center · NASA educational and informational reuse (cropped)
Learning through someone else’s day
Read about a university learning activity and practise can and cannot with everyday situations.
Photo: Paul The Writer · CC0 public domain (cropped)
Where is the Sun?
Read about a rainbow in Italy and practise in front of and behind.
Photo: Jakob Owens · CC0 public domain (cropped)
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A musical shape, a scientific explanation
Follow a two-stage astronomy explanation and link causes with results.
Photo: NASA/CXC/INAF-IRA/A. Botteon et al.; processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/N. Wolk · Chandra NASA/SAO informational image reuse (cropped)
A science question in the backyard
Follow a student’s research experience and practise past simple verbs.
A green lake from space
Read about Lake Balkhash and describe shapes and colours.
Photo: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC · NASA educational and informational reuse (cropped)
Batteries that can survive the cold
Explore Moon-battery research and distinguish possibility from certainty.
Photo: NASA/Ryan Hill · NASA educational and informational media reuse (cropped)
Small samples, big questions about Mars
Read about Mars-moon research and explain purpose with to.
Photo: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona · Public domain, HiRISE (cropped)
A galaxy from the side
Describe a space picture with there is and there are.
Photo: NASA, ESA, Michael Jones (Caltech); processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America) · NASA educational and informational media reuse (cropped)
What a heat shield can teach engineers
Compare engineering findings and practise fewer and less.
Photo: NASA · NASA editorial image reuse (cropped)
Different skills for one space challenge
Read about a team challenge and connect two true ideas with both and.
Photo: NASA/NOAA · NASA editorial image reuse (cropped)
Sun power for a space home
Read about solar power and practise needs with simple nouns.
Photo: NASA · NASA editorial image reuse (cropped)
A rehearsal in Earth’s shadow
Read a spacecraft rehearsal story and explain what a test can and cannot establish.
Photo: NASA · NASA editorial image reuse (cropped)
A Moon lander faces hot and cold
Read about spacecraft tests and explain their purpose with to.
Photo: NASA · NASA editorial image reuse (cropped)
A camera helps students learn
Read a student science story and say what a tool can do.
Photo: NASA · NASA editorial image reuse (cropped)
The rocks behind a spider shape
Read a geology feature and distinguish appearance, evidence and uncertainty.
Photo: NASA Earth Observatory/Michala Garrison; Landsat data: U.S. Geological Survey · NASA editorial image reuse (cropped)
A small rover, a long journey
Read about a rover’s record and practise has travelled and has used.
Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech · NASA editorial image reuse (cropped)
White clouds over blue water
Read a short cloud story and describe a picture with there is and there are.
Photo: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC · NASA editorial image reuse (cropped)
Particles reveal the solar wind’s past
Read a solar discovery and explain how evidence connects stages of a process.
Photo: ESA & NASA/Solar Orbiter/EUI Team · CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (cropped)
One view, five moons
Read a new astronomy feature and describe where objects appear.
Photo: NASA/JPL · NASA editorial image reuse (cropped)
Winter ice around Antarctica
Read about Antarctic sea ice and practise simple comparisons.
Photo: NASA/Jane Peterson · NASA editorial image reuse (cropped)
A brief signal leads to a distant galaxy
Read astronomy research and separate a finding from a possible explanation.
Photo: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Themiya Nanayakkara (USYD); processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI) · NASA editorial image reuse (cropped)
Fields turn yellow from space
Read a satellite story and explain changes with because.
Photo: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC · NASA editorial image reuse (cropped)
Moon pictures for everyone
Read about Moon pictures and practise simple past verbs.
Photo: NASA · NASA editorial image reuse (cropped)
Faint light reveals unusual worlds
Read astronomy research, practise may and distinguish a measurement from a broader claim.
Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech · JPL image reuse permission (cropped)
Small capsules test protection from heat
Read about heat-shield experiments and use to plus a verb to explain purpose.
Photo: NASA · NASA educational image-use permission (cropped)
A big crater on a small moon
Read a short space story and compare big and small things.
Photo: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona · Public domain, HiRISE (cropped)
Space images help explain water stress
Compare dated satellite evidence, practise whereas and discuss the limits of one photograph.
Photo: NASA Earth Observatory/Lauren Dauphin, using USGS Landsat data · NASA educational image-use permission (cropped)
A test telescope prepares for LISA
Read about a test telescope, practise will and explain why engineers test equipment.
Photo: NASA/Dennis Henry · NASA educational image-use permission (cropped)
Four states meet in one place
Read a short geography story and describe a picture with there is and there are.
Photo: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC · NASA educational image-use permission (cropped)
Arctic ice: one year and a longer trend
Compare one annual sea-ice result with a longer record, practise although and evaluate what evidence can support.
Photo: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center · CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
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A rover shows a morning on Mars
Read about a Mars panorama, practise past simple verbs and distinguish a photograph date from its release date.
Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS · NASA educational image-use permission (cropped)
A picture shows autumn trees
Read a simple autumn story and describe colours with is and are.
Photo: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC · NASA educational image-use permission (cropped)
A Nobel Prize for mirror-image molecules
Understand a chemistry award and connect contrasting ideas with although.
A space picture looks like fireworks
Read about a new telescope image and compare appearances carefully.
Photo: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA. PI: T. Cunningham (Center for Astrophysics, Harvard & Smithsonian). Image processing: J. Miller & M. Rodriguez (International Gemini Observatory/NSF NOIRLab), T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF NOIRLab), D. de Martin & M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab) · CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
Eggshells help make strong metal
Read a short recycling story and describe a simple process.
Photo: Isabelle Hurbain-Palatin (Balise42) · CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
A Nobel Prize for listening to the universe
Explore how Antarctic ice helps detect particles and practise cause and result.
Photo: John Hardin · CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
A laser helps make a new antenna
Read about a laser antenna and distinguish tested abilities from possible uses.
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Bright rocks in Madagascar
Look at Madagascar from space and practise is, are and colour words.
Photo: NASA/Expedition 75 crew, ISS075-E-85249 · NASA editorial image-use guidelines (cropped)
A test plane flies six times in one week
Read about six test flights and practise past events with before and after.
Photo: NASA/Jim Ross · NASA editorial image-use guidelines (cropped)
A video about a butter cow wins a prize
Read simple news about art made from butter and practise it is and it is not.
Photo: Ajay Suresh · CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
.jpg){kind=link}
Volunteers help astronomers see cosmic dust
Explore a volunteer astronomy project and practise first conditional sentences.
Photo: NASA, ESA, CSA, Rogier Windhorst (ASU), William Keel (University of Alabama), Stuart Wyithe (University of Melbourne), JWST PEARLS Team, Alyssa Pagan (STScI) · CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
Small shades help corals keep their colour
Read coral research news and practise may and simple comparisons.
Photo: Karen Neely; study by Neely, Dennison, Toth, Chaparro and Baker, Frontiers in Marine Science (2026) · CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
A robot takes its own picture
Read about a robot on Mars and practise can with simple action words.
Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS · JPL image reuse policy (cropped)
A very hot test for a space machine
Read simple space news and describe a model with is and adjectives.
Photo: NASA/Mike Guinto · NASA editorial image reuse (cropped)
A family day at an air and space museum
Read simple museum news and practise can with activity words.
Photo: Peter Madden / Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum · CC0 1.0 (cropped)
What silk and metal can have in common
Compare artistic effects and practise although and both.
Photo: Quadell · CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
Canadian fields change colour with the seasons
Compare seasonal photographs using but and simple past forms.
Photo: NASA Earth Observatory/Michala Garrison, using USGS Landsat data · NASA editorial image reuse (cropped)
Blue and yellow lights from space
Describe a space photograph with there is and there are.
Photo: NASA/Anil Menon · NASA editorial image reuse (cropped)
What a forest’s faint glow can tell us
Explain how research is checked and practise purpose phrases.
Photo: NASA/Petya Campbell · NASA editorial image reuse (cropped)
Scottish rocks help scientists study Mars
Follow a field trip and practise past simple verbs.
Photo: NASA/Pedro Cota · NASA editorial image reuse (cropped)
A new material for space
Describe a research picture with this and these.
Photo: NASA · NASA editorial image reuse (cropped)
Learning from a difficult space mission
Separate a project’s result from its value and practise contrast.
Photo: NASA/Ron Beard · NASA editorial image reuse (cropped)
A hidden world under the ice
Read about a new map and explain reasons with because.
Photo: NASA · NASA editorial image reuse (cropped)
A cloud with a hat
Describe a cloud picture with above and below.
Photo: MASTER/RoseAnne Dominguez; annotation by Michala Garrison · NASA editorial image reuse (cropped)
Robots take on dangerous work
Explore robotics research and distinguish results from predictions.
Photo: Benjamin Shaw · CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
A tidy place to study
Read about a library campaign and practise polite instructions.
Photo: FJones2123 · CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
Colours in the water
Look at Bristol Bay and practise is with colour words.
Photo: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC · NASA editorial image reuse (cropped)
A space idea finds a new job
Explore a space-technology spinoff and explain purpose with to.
Photo: Ruth Hartnup · CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
Watching a volcano from space
Follow a satellite study and practise first, then and finally.
Photo: Ian Scrimger · CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
Hubble goes around Earth
Read about Hubble and practise can with simple verbs.
Photo: NASA/JSC · Public domain, NASA (cropped)
One fuel tank, two ways to move
Explore a spacecraft design and explain purposes with to.
Photo: NASA/Charles Beason · NASA media usage guidelines (cropped)
Big dishes listen to a space telescope
Discover how space data reaches Earth and practise because.
Photo: NASA · NASA media usage guidelines (cropped)
A name for a baby red panda
Meet a baby red panda and practise his and her.
Photo: Tej Patel · CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
What can people eat in space?
Read about food ideas for space and practise I like and I do not like.
Photo: NASA/Kate Rubins · NASA editorial media reuse (cropped)
Two swans find a new home
Meet two swans and practise is and are with colours.
Photo: Ltshears · Public domain (cropped)
A baby wombat grows up
Read about a baby wombat and practise he, she and it.
Photo: Sardaka · CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
Southern_hairy_nosed_wombat-1.jpg){kind=link}
A hot test before a journey to Venus
Explain a test and connect a problem to a result with so and because.
Photo: NASA/Mike Guinto · NASA media usage guidelines (cropped)
A drone gets ready for safe landings
Read about a flying machine and make simple sentences with can.
Photo: NASA/Ryan Kline · NASA media usage guidelines (cropped)
Mountains above the clouds
Describe a satellite picture and use above and below to explain position.
Photo: NASA Earth Observatory/Michala Garrison, MODIS data · NASA reuse policy, commercial reuse permitted (cropped)
Could clearer data make flying smoother?
Separate demonstrated results from future benefits and practise cautious predictions.
Photo: NASA/Brandon Torres-Navarrete · NASA media usage guidelines (cropped)
Flowers after the rain
Read a short nature story and say what you can see with there is and there are.
Photo: Calistemon · CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
Mars rocks rewrite a watery history
Trace a scientific revision and distinguish the order of events from their dates.
Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS · JPL image-use policy (cropped)
Why do the seasons change?
Read about Earth’s seasons, learn three useful words and compare longer and shorter days.
Photo: NASA Earth Observatory/Michala Garrison, DSCOVR EPIC data · NASA reuse policy, commercial reuse permitted (cropped)
How hot can complex life get?
Distinguish survival from reproduction and qualify scientific claims with cautious modal language.
Photo: Frank Schulenburg · CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
Who decides what belongs in a museum?
Examine how museums frame artistic value, distinguish intentions from outcomes and qualify an argument with concessive fronting.
Photo: Jeremy Thompson, Lucas Museum of Narrative Art aug 2023 · CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
Computing with DNA: promise and proof
Read about DNA computing, distinguish demonstrated results from future possibilities and practise concessive clauses.
Photo: Gannu03, Laboratory microcentrifuge tubes and pipette tips 01 · CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
A new Moon crater, and the clues it leaves
Investigate a newly reported Moon crater, distinguish evidence from estimates and practise cautious scientific claims.
Photo: Gregory H. Revera, FullMoon2010 · CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
Repairs and Moon practice on the space station
Discover practical work on the space station and use to + verb to explain the purpose of an activity.
Photo: NASA/Jessica Meir · NASA media usage guidelines (cropped)
California’s AI order: what changes now?
Explore California’s AI safety order, distinguish proposals from requirements and practise a balanced C1 argument.
Photo: State of California · Public domain (US) (cropped)
Meet a small wild cat from Bolivia
Meet Bolivia’s tilcayo cat and practise easy comparisons with smaller than and different from.
Photo: Pitxiquin · CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
Old skills meet new technology at Ireland’s farming show
Read today’s news from Ireland, learn three useful words and compare traditional skills with modern technology.
Photo: Capabletom · CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
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