English Learning: James Webb Telescope New Discoveries

Dialogue

Current Situation

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is an infrared space observatory launched in December 2021. It is the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope and is significantly more powerful, designed to observe the most distant objects in the universe, such as the first stars and galaxies formed after the Big Bang, and to study the atmospheres of exoplanets in detail.

Since its full operation began in mid-2022, JWST has delivered groundbreaking discoveries. It has detected galaxies that are much older, larger, and brighter than theories predicted for the early universe, challenging existing cosmological models. For example, it has identified galaxies existing just a few hundred million years after the Big Bang, showing mature stellar populations. Additionally, JWST has provided unprecedented data on exoplanet atmospheres, confirming the presence of molecules like water vapor and methane on several distant worlds, bringing us closer to understanding planetary formation and the potential for life beyond Earth.

Key Phrases

You won’t believe what…:

Used to introduce exciting or surprising news.

Example: You won’t believe what our team achieved this quarter!

Blow my mind:

To be extremely impressive, surprising, or overwhelming.

Example: The special effects in that movie truly blew my mind.

Get my head around (something):

To understand or comprehend something difficult or complex.

Example: I’m still trying to get my head around the new tax regulations.

On a whole other level:

Significantly better, more advanced, or more intense than something else.

Example: Her painting skills are on a whole other level compared to mine.

Super- (prefix):

Used as a prefix to mean “very much,” “extremely,” or “beyond the usual.” Often used informally or in scientific contexts to denote a larger or more intense version.

Example: This new smartphone has a super-fast processor.

Mind-boggling:

Extremely difficult to imagine or understand; astonishing.

Example: The sheer size of the universe is absolutely mind-boggling.

Incorrigible:

Not able to be corrected, improved, or reformed; typically used to describe a person’s bad habits or mischievous behavior in a lighthearted way.

Example: He’s an incorrigible prankster, always making people laugh.

Grammar Points

1. Present Perfect Tense for Recent Discoveries and Unfinished Past Actions

The dialogue frequently uses the Present Perfect tense (have/has + past participle) to talk about discoveries that happened recently and have a connection to the present, or actions that started in the past and continue to affect the present.

• Alice: “They’ve identified a super-early galaxy…” (A recent discovery, the results of which are still relevant.)
• Alice: “They also confirmed water vapor…” (Another recent finding.)
• Current Situation: “JWST has delivered groundbreaking discoveries.” (An ongoing period of discoveries since its operation began.)

Structure: Subject + has/have + Past Participle

Example: Scientists have found evidence of ice on Mars. (The finding happened, and its impact is current.)

2. Modal Verbs for Possibility and Speculation

Modal verbs like “could,” “might,” and “would” are used to express possibility, speculation, or hypothetical situations.

• Alice: “this could be a big step towards finding habitable planets.” (Expressing possibility)
• Bob: “Or maybe they have a universal toaster setting.” (Implies “they might have,” expressing speculation)

Example: We might discover even more astonishing things in the future. (Possibility)

Example: If it were habitable, it would be amazing. (Hypothetical situation with ‘would’)

3. Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs combine a verb with a preposition or adverb, changing the verb’s meaning.

• Get your head around: To understand something difficult. (e.g., “trying to get its head around why my toast always burns”)
• Run out of: To use up a supply of something completely. (e.g., “I just discovered I’m out of coffee.”)

Example: Scientists are trying to figure out how this galaxy formed. (Figure out = understand)

Practice Exercises