B1AI-generatedSeptember 11, 2026·2 min read·264 words·5 vocab words·Source: NASA Science

Monterrey Amid Mountains

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Monterrey Amid Mountains
Photo: Monterrey Amid Mountains (1310209 lrg) by August 26, 2026 (Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) (Public domain)
In brief

NASA has released several fascinating updates, starting with a new image of Monterrey amid mountains. On Earth, scientists have studied hurricanes during El Niño and tracked a volcanic eruption. In space, telescopes have discovered distant objects and a decagon shape on Saturn. Additionally, the president has honored the Artemis II crew and signed an order to create a new US Space Academy. You can read these stories in the latest Astronaut Fact Book.

Listen — hands-free audio modeSwipe through today's stories at your level. Lock your screen and keep listening.Survival phrases — real-world situationsBrowse graded phrases for travel, work, emergencies and more. Audio in 5 languages.
Vocabulary · Words with a dotted underline are vocabulary words — tap for an instant definition.

NASA has several updates about Earth and space, including an image that shows Monterrey amid mountains.

On Earth, scientists have observed some dramatic natural events over the past few days. For example, a massive dust storm swept over Mali, and the famous volcano Anak Krakatau rumbled again. In addition, two satellites from the US and Europe have been studying how hurricanes behave during El Niño. On World Ocean Day, over one thousand museum visitors decided to study NASA's sea level science. NASA has also developed an exciting new technique that satellite photos to reveal ancient images.

In space science, the Hubble and Webb telescopes have found far-out objects that seem to remember their past. Furthermore, the Hubble telescope has tracked a mysterious new decagon shape which encircles the south pole of Saturn. In aeronautics, NASA's quiet X-59 aircraft has built by completing its twenty-fifth flight. Meanwhile, engineers have wired up the Dragonfly spacecraft, and they have officially named its future landing area on Titan.

Regarding space exploration, NASA researchers have discovered that human-related might actually survive at the Moon's south pole. This is an important finding as astronauts prepare for future missions. In fact, the US president has recently honored the Artemis II crew with the highest US space award. The president has also signed an executive order to create a new US Space Academy. If you want to learn about these achievements, you can read the latest Astronaut Fact Book. Finally, you can explore the story of Jaden Caradine, who went from the Marine Corps to the cosmos.

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Comprehension
Question 1 of 3

What does NASA's new photo manipulation technique do?

Grammar spotlight

Present Perfect Tense

One point · B1

We use the present perfect (have/has + past participle) to describe actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past but are highly relevant to the present.

From this article

NASA has released several updates about Earth and space, including an image that shows Monterrey amid mountains.

What to know · B1

Use it today

Try saying this aloud

Neutral register

Scenario: You are writing a short post on social media about the latest scientific discoveries.

  1. 01NASA has released several updates...
  2. 02In addition, scientists have been studying...
  3. 03If you want to learn about...

Register tip · informal

🔑Key Phrases

NASA has released several updates about Earth and spaceLa NASA ha publicado varias actualizaciones sobre la Tierra y el espacio.

A standard journalistic opening used to summarize recent announcements.

Present perfect tense with a prepositional phrase

The company has released several updates about its new product.

two satellites from the US and Europe have been studying how hurricanes behavedos satélites de EE. UU. y Europa han estado estudiando cómo se comportan los huracanes

Describes ongoing collaborative scientific research.

Present perfect continuous tense

Scientists have been studying how these birds migrate.

human-related microbes might actually survive at the Moon's south polelos microbios relacionados con los humanos podrían sobrevivir en el polo sur de la Luna

Expresses scientific probability regarding space contamination.

Modal verb 'might' + adverb 'actually' + base verb

These plants might actually survive in dry deserts.

who went from the Marine Corps to the cosmosquien pasó del Cuerpo de Marines al cosmos

An engaging way to describe a major career transition.

Relative clause with a 'from... to...' construction

He is a teacher who went from the business world to the classroom.

Accent

Article Audio — Kokoro TTS

Monterrey Amid Mountains

💬Discussion Questions

Open-ended questions to talk or write about — alone, with a partner, or in class.

  1. 1

    How do you think satellite technology has changed the way we understand our own planet?

    Opinion
  2. 2

    What are the potential environmental risks of human microbes surviving on the Moon?

    Evaluate
  3. 3

    If you could work at a newly created Space Academy, what subject would you want to study?

    Personal
  4. 4

    How do you think El Niño affects weather patterns in your part of the world?

    Compare
  5. 5

    Do you think supersonic flight will become a common way for the public to travel in the future?

    Predict
  6. 6

    Why do you think people are so fascinated by finding ancient structures or images from space?

    Opinion
  7. 7

    How does Jaden Caradine's journey from the military to space science inspire you?

    Personal
  8. 8

    What is the value of spending money on space exploration when there are many problems on Earth?

    Evaluate

News sourced from: NASA Science. LectoPress rewrites the facts as original graded-reader text for language learners.

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