Lesson
Artificial Eggshell Aims to Revive Moa
Read this news story in English at three levels, easy, standard, and advanced (B1–C1) — with vocabulary and a comprehension quiz.
Colossal Biosciences has developed an artificial eggshell to help revive the extinct moa, a large flightless bird from New Zealand. While they claim success, some scientists remain skeptical about the feasibility of this project.
Pick your level
Standard — Natural English
55 words · ~1 min readEasy version (A2–B1)
Colossal Biosciences is working to bring back the moa, a big bird that is extinct. They made an artificial eggshell to help hatch moa eggs. Some scientists are unsure if this will work. They want more details before believing it.Standard version (B1–B2)
Colossal Biosciences, a company focused on de-extinction, has created an artificial eggshell to help revive the moa, a giant flightless bird that went extinct around 600 years ago. While the company claims its new incubation system can be scaled up, some scientists express skepticism, noting the lack of detailed scientific data to support these claims.Advanced version (C1–C2)
Colossal Biosciences has announced a significant advancement in its efforts to resurrect the extinct moa, a flightless bird that once roamed New Zealand and stood over three meters tall. The company has developed an artificial eggshell designed to facilitate the incubation of moa eggs, claiming that their novel silicone membrane allows for optimal oxygen exchange. However, many scientists are skeptical of these claims, emphasizing the need for peer-reviewed research to substantiate the effectiveness of this new technology. Critics point out that while artificial eggshells can hatch chicks, survival rates remain low, and the challenges of replicating the size and conditions necessary for moa eggs are substantial.Lesson audio
Standard level
Tap to play
Test your understanding
Test your understanding
01What is the main goal of Colossal Biosciences?
02What is a challenge mentioned regarding the artificial eggshell?
03How tall could the moa grow?
04What do some scientists want before believing Colossal's claims?
Discussion
Discussion
What are the ethical implications of attempting to revive extinct species like the moa?
Vocabulary
Vocabulary
de-extinction word
the process of bringing back extinct species
“Colossal Biosciences is focused on de-extinction efforts.”
incubation word
the process of keeping eggs warm so they can hatch
“The artificial eggshell is part of the incubation system.”
skeptical word
having doubts about something
“Some scientists are skeptical about the company's claims.”
artificial word
made by humans, not natural
“They created an artificial eggshell to help hatch eggs.”
survival rate word
the percentage of individuals that live after a certain period
“The survival rate for chicks from artificial eggshells is limited.”