Internet Users Question Colorful 'Telescope' Image
2022-08-11
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1The American space agency NASA recently released the first images observed by its powerful James Webb Space Telescope.
2NASA officials said the new images represented the Webb's ability to gather data and capture observations in more depth and detail than any other space telescope ever built.
3The images - which showed distant space clouds and objects in highly colorful detail - were widely shared online.
4Many social media users commented on the extreme clarity and depth seen in the pictures.
5NASA has said the high level of detail is made possible because the Webb telescope was built with the latest technology to observe infrared light.
6The new images were released July 12.
7NASA has continued to release information and images about the Webb on the telescope's official Twitter page.
8Recently, a French scientist also published a tweet that included an image he claimed had been observed by the Webb.
9The scientist is Etienne Klein, a well-known physicist in France and the director of research at the country's Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission.
10The image Klein posted appeared as a round object surrounded by a black background.
11The object was mostly deep red, with other small, round shapes appearing yellow, orange and white.
12Klein wrote on Twitter that the object was a Webb-captured image of Proxima Centauri, the nearest star to the sun.
13Klein described his excitement at the posted image.
14"This level of detail... A new world is revealed every day," he wrote.
15But in fact, as Klein later admitted, the picture was not of Proxima Centauri.
16Instead, the image showed a cut piece of Spanish sausage called chorizo.
17The physicist said he published the image and tweet as a joke.
18Some internet users immediately recognized the image as being false.
19Others, however, retweeted it with excitement, as another great example of the observation abilities of the Webb telescope.
20Some social media users later created memes to make fun of Klein's Twitter post.
21These included low-tech attempts to show a range of everyday objects meant to look like space objects.
22In admitting his joke, Klein wrote that in modern astronomy, "no object belonging to Spanish charcuterie exists anywhere but on Earth."
23Klein said he realized many users had not understood his joke.
24He said his reason for posting the image was to urge the public to "be wary of arguments from people in positions of authority."
25One Twitter user agreed with Klein's thinking and said he found the post "funny."
26He added: "And it should teach you a valuable lesson not to blindly believe everything you read without questioning it..."
27But others suggested such a joke did nothing to help the problem of false news that continues to flood the internet and social media services.
28One user tweeted, "Misinformation is dangerous, we believe in almost everything we are told and we don't have doubts when a scientist (provides) information."
29Another wrote Klein's action represented a "misuse of power" and called for the scientist to be fired.
30Klein later issued an official apology, saying he was sorry for what he described as a "scientist's joke."
31"I come to present my apologies to those who may have been shocked by my prank, which had nothing original about it," he wrote.
32A short time later, he posted another picture on Twitter.
33But this time it was an actual James Webb image released by NASA.
34He urged Twitter users to trust him this time that the image - of the famous Cartwheel Galaxy - was truly real.
35I'm Bryan Lynn.
1The American space agency NASA recently released the first images observed by its powerful James Webb Space Telescope. 2NASA officials said the new images represented the Webb's ability to gather data and capture observations in more depth and detail than any other space telescope ever built. 3The images - which showed distant space clouds and objects in highly colorful detail - were widely shared online. Many social media users commented on the extreme clarity and depth seen in the pictures. 4NASA has said the high level of detail is made possible because the Webb telescope was built with the latest technology to observe infrared light. 5The new images were released July 12. NASA has continued to release information and images about the Webb on the telescope's official Twitter page. 6Recently, a French scientist also published a tweet that included an image he claimed had been observed by the Webb. The scientist is Etienne Klein, a well-known physicist in France and the director of research at the country's Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission. 7The image Klein posted appeared as a round object surrounded by a black background. The object was mostly deep red, with other small, round shapes appearing yellow, orange and white. 8Klein wrote on Twitter that the object was a Webb-captured image of Proxima Centauri, the nearest star to the sun. Klein described his excitement at the posted image. "This level of detail... A new world is revealed every day," he wrote. 9But in fact, as Klein later admitted, the picture was not of Proxima Centauri. Instead, the image showed a cut piece of Spanish sausage called chorizo. The physicist said he published the image and tweet as a joke. 10Some internet users immediately recognized the image as being false. Others, however, retweeted it with excitement, as another great example of the observation abilities of the Webb telescope. 11Some social media users later created memes to make fun of Klein's Twitter post. These included low-tech attempts to show a range of everyday objects meant to look like space objects. 12In admitting his joke, Klein wrote that in modern astronomy, "no object belonging to Spanish charcuterie exists anywhere but on Earth." 13Klein said he realized many users had not understood his joke. He said his reason for posting the image was to urge the public to "be wary of arguments from people in positions of authority." 14One Twitter user agreed with Klein's thinking and said he found the post "funny." He added: "And it should teach you a valuable lesson not to blindly believe everything you read without questioning it..." 15But others suggested such a joke did nothing to help the problem of false news that continues to flood the internet and social media services. 16One user tweeted, "Misinformation is dangerous, we believe in almost everything we are told and we don't have doubts when a scientist (provides) information." 17Another wrote Klein's action represented a "misuse of power" and called for the scientist to be fired. 18Klein later issued an official apology, saying he was sorry for what he described as a "scientist's joke." 19"I come to present my apologies to those who may have been shocked by my prank, which had nothing original about it," he wrote. 20A short time later, he posted another picture on Twitter. But this time it was an actual James Webb image released by NASA. He urged Twitter users to trust him this time that the image - of the famous Cartwheel Galaxy - was truly real. 21I'm Bryan Lynn. 22Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from Agence-France Presse, Twitter and NASA. 23___________________________________________________________________ 24Words in This Story 25reveal - v. give someone a piece of information that is surprising or was previously secret 26meme - n. images created for the internet that bring back fun or happy memories or make fun of something 27charcuterie - n. a branch of cooking that involves meats and meat dishes 28wary - adj. not trusting of something 29authority - n. an official power of body that makes decisions 30blindly - adj. not able to see of notice what is happening around you 31doubt - v. a feeling of not being sure about something 32prank - n. a trick that is intended to be funny 33original - adj. something that is special and interesting because it is not the same as others 34______________________________________________________________________ 35What do you think of this story? We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 36Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.