Lesson 4: Science & Technology
Innovation, Research, and Discovery
From the smartphone in your pocket to the medicine that keeps us healthy, science1 and technology2 shape every part of our modern lives. Discussing these topics requires a more specific vocabulary. This lesson will introduce you to key B2-level terms used to talk about research, discovery, and innovation.
The Process of Science
| research3 | The detailed study of a subject to discover new information. Example: "Scientists are conducting research to find a cure." |
| discovery4 | The action of finding something for the first time. Example: "The discovery of penicillin changed medicine." |
| experiment5 | A scientific test done to learn something. Example: "We did an experiment in our chemistry class." |
| evidence6 | Facts or information that prove something is true. Example: "There is strong evidence of climate change." |
| theory7 | A formal set of ideas intended to explain why something happens. Example: "Einstein's theory of relativity is famous." |
Technological Concepts
| innovation8 | The use of a new idea or method. Example: "The smartphone was a major innovation." |
| artificial intelligence (AI)9 | The ability of a computer to think and learn like a human. Example: "AI is used in translation apps." |
| data10 | Information, especially facts or numbers, for examination. Example: "Researchers are analyzing the data." |
| advanced11 | Modern and recently developed. Example: "Modern hospitals use advanced technology." |
Usage Note: "Discover" vs. "Invent"
These two verbs are similar but have a key difference.
- To discover something means to find something that already existed, but nobody knew about it.
Example: "Scientists discover new species of animals." - To invent something means to create something completely new that did not exist before.
Example: "Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone."
In Conversation
Srey and Bora are discussing a news article.
Srey: Did you read about the new artificial intelligence they are using for medical research?
Bora: I did! It's an amazing innovation. It can analyze huge amounts of data much faster than a human can.
Srey: Exactly. The hope is that it can lead to a new discovery that helps cure diseases.
Bora: It's based on the theory that AI can see patterns that humans miss. There is strong evidence that it works.
Srey: It's incredible how advanced technology is becoming. It's like they invent something new every day!
Bora: I agree. It's very different from when scientists did a simple experiment in a lab to discover things.
quiz Check Your Understanding
1. The detailed study of a subject to find new information is called ______.
- a) theory
- b) research
- c) data
Click to see the answer
Answer: b) research
2. Did Marie Curie *discover* or *invent* the element radium?
- a) discover
- b) invent
Click to see the answer
Answer: a) discover (The element already existed in nature).
3. A new idea or method that changes how we do things is an ______.
- a) experiment
- b) innovation
- c) evidence
Click to see the answer
Answer: b) innovation
edit Your Mission
- My Opinion: What do you think is the most important innovation of the last 20 years? Write one sentence explaining why.
- Science in the News: Find an English news article about a scientific discovery or new technology. Write down the headline and one new word you learned.
- Speak: Your mission is to talk to a friend about a piece of technology you use every day. Try to use words like 'advanced', 'data', or 'AI' if you can.
book Lesson Glossary
- Science (noun) - Khmer: វិទ្យាសាស្ត្រ - The study of the natural and physical world through observation and experiment. ↩
- Technology (noun) - Khmer: បច្ចេកវិទ្យា - The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes. ↩
- research (noun) - Khmer: ការស្រាវជ្រាវ - The detailed study of a subject to discover new information. ↩
- discovery (noun) - Khmer: ការរកឃើញ - The action of finding something new that already existed. ↩
- experiment (noun) - Khmer: ការពិសោធន៍ - A scientific test to learn something. ↩
- evidence (noun) - Khmer: ភស្តុតាង - Facts or information that prove something is true. ↩
- theory (noun) - Khmer: ទ្រឹស្ដី - A formal set of ideas that explains why something happens. ↩
- innovation (noun) - Khmer: នវានុវត្តន៍ - The use of a new idea or method. ↩
- artificial intelligence (AI) (noun) - Khmer: បញ្ញាសិប្បនិម្មិត - The ability of a computer to think and learn like a human. ↩
- data (noun) - Khmer: ទិន្នន័យ - Information, especially facts or numbers, for examination. ↩
- advanced (adjective) - Khmer: កម្រិតខ្ពស់ / ទំនើប - Modern and recently developed. ↩