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ArchiveLesson #61Science

Artificial Eggshell Aims to Revive Moa

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.

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Standard version (B1-B2)

Standard: natural English

Colossal Biosciences, a company focused on , has created an eggshell to help revive the moa, a giant flightless bird that went extinct around 600 years ago. While the company claims its new system can be scaled up, some scientists express skepticism, noting the lack of detailed scientific data to support these claims.

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Narration includes the headline and summary.

Adapted from The Guardian, 19 May 2026, and rewritten at three levels by Newslish. Newslish is not affiliated with the source. Read the original.

Key vocabulary

  • de-extinction

    the process of bringing back extinct species

    “Colossal Biosciences is focused on de-extinction efforts.”

  • incubation

    the process of keeping eggs warm so they can hatch

    “The artificial eggshell is part of the incubation system.”

  • skeptical

    having doubts about something

    “Some scientists are skeptical about the company's claims.”

  • artificial

    made by humans, not natural

    “They created an artificial eggshell to help hatch eggs.”

  • survival rate

    the percentage of individuals that live after a certain period

    “The survival rate for chicks from artificial eggshells is limited.”

Quick quiz

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?

Answered 0 of 4

Discussion

What are the ethical implications of attempting to revive extinct species like the moa?