Subtitles section Play video Print subtitles Can coffee be even more delicious? Scientists crack its genetic code. This is News Review from BBC Learning English, where we help you understand news headlines in English. I'm Neil. And I'm Georgie. Make sure you watch to the end to learn the vocabulary you need to talk about this story. Don't forget to subscribe to our channel so you can learn more English from news headlines. Now the story. Researchers in Italy have created a complete genetic map of Arabica coffee. They say this will allow us to create new flavours of one of the world's most popular drinks. It could also lead to coffee plants that can cope with climate change. You've been looking at the headlines, Georgie. What's the vocabulary people need to understand this story in English? We have 'shines new light,' 'buzz' and 'brews.' This is News Review from BBC Learning English. Let's have a look at our first headline. This one's from Daily Coffee News: Study Shines New Light on the Complex Arabica Coffee Genome. So this headline is about a new scientific study in Italy into the coffee genome – that's the DNA of coffee. We're looking at the expression shines a new light. It contains shines. Now Georgie, the sun shines and the lights in this studio are shining on us. Can you tell us more? Yes. Well, in a literal sense, when something shines, it gives out a bright light. This lamp in the studio is shining a light on your big coffee stain on your script, Neil. Yes, it's horrible and messy, isn't it? OK, so lights and the sun can shine, but in this headline, it says that a study shines a light. How does that work? Well, here, like in lots of news headlines, they are using the language figuratively. To shine a light on something means to draw attention to something so that we focus on it. Yeah. And in this headline, it says shines a new light. That just means that obviously there was some research before, but this is new research. What else can we shine a light on? Well, Neil, you did your driving test recently, didn't you? The good news is you passed the driving part, but unfortunately, you failed the written part. This really shone a light on your laziness when it comes to study. Thanks, Georgie, for shining a light on my laziness. Let's look at that again. Let's have our next headline. This one's from Nature Publishing Group: New buzz about coffee genes: A more complete genome sequence of world's most popular variety. So this headline, like the last one, emphasises that there's something new happening that people are interested in. The word that we're looking at is buzz. It's a lovely word. It sounds like what it is. It's the noise that bees make – buzz. Yes, that is one meaning, but here it's used metaphorically to mean that there's excitement about this new coffee gene map. It still reminds me of that sound buzz – there's a buzz of excitement. Yes, and you've been looking at a buzz – that's a noun. But can it be used in other ways? Yes, it's also an adjective. That word is buzzing and it means excited. I imagine that people are excited or buzzing about the possibility of new coffee flavours. It's also got a coffee-related meaning as well. When you drink too much coffee, you are buzzing. It means you are very awake. The coffee gives you a buzz. Well, I'm buzzing to find out what our next headline's going to be, but before that, let's get a recap. Let's have our next headline. This one's from the BBC. New coffee genetic map promises better brews. So we know what this story is about. We're looking this time at the word brews. Georgie, what is a brew? Well, brew or brews, as a noun, like it is in the headline, is a cup of tea or coffee, in this case coffee. The new genetic map promises better brews – there's a chance of better coffee in the future. In British English especially, it's very common to say, "I'm going to make a brew, do you want one?" Which is usually about tea. Are you offering? Actually, I prefer coffee. No, Neil, that was just an example. But when we finish this, you can make me a brew. OK, I'll make some coffee. I've got some of those new delicious Arabica beans. But this word brew, is it used in any other ways? Yes. Brew is also a verb which has two meanings, both involving making a drink. The most relevant for us here is the process of making tea or coffee. To brew tea or coffee, you mix them with hot water. You can also brew beer. Yes, but that's a different process. Let's look at that again. We've had shines a light -- draws attention to something. Buzz -- an atmosphere of excitement. And brew -- a cup of tea or coffee. Now, if you've enjoyed this, we think you'll love this 6 Minute English book set all about coffee. Click here to watch. Don't forget to click here to subscribe to our channel so you never miss another programme. Thank you for joining us and goodbye. Bye.
B1 UK buzz brew headline georgie arabica buzzing DNA Study: Better Coffee? BBC News Review 10942 72 VoiceTube posted on 2024/06/11 More Share Save Report Video vocabulary