Each week, we scan the latest headlines to spot words in action. From major news stories to pop culture buzz, this feature highlights language as it’s unfolding. Stories about international cooperation, creative landscaping, and rule-breaking robotaxis all contributed to the vocabulary from this week’s news.
circadian
adjective: Physiology. having or relating to 24-hour biological cycles
From the headlines: Psychiatrists have long recommended “bright light therapy” for people whose moods dip as the days get shorter and darker. This usually means sitting in front of a light box, which emits bright light, for about 30 minutes each morning. New research shows that it’s most effective to begin this seasonal depression treatment in September, rather than waiting until winter. Light therapy helps maintain the circadian rhythm, or internal clock, which can be thrown off by changes in daylight.
consortium
noun: a cooperative association among institutions or companies
From the headlines: California has launched a new consortium dedicated to the “safe, ethical, equitable, and sustainable” development of artificial intelligence. Named CalCompute, the group was created under a broad state law regulating AI. The proposal described the consortium as a publicly owned association of researchers and startups, united by the mission of applying AI for the common good.
constraint
noun: a limitation or restriction
From the headlines: A coaching method known as the “constraints-led approach,” or CLA, is increasingly popular with top athletes from various sports. Many coaches have replaced traditional “block training,” in which players practice the same skill over and over, with CLA. They say practices that add constraints by changing variables like court size, number of opposing players, the size and weight of the ball, and other limitations, come closer to reproducing the unpredictability of a real game.
parliamentary
adjective: relating to a country’s lawmaking body (parliament) or its members
From the headlines: Moldova’s pro-Europe Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) secured a clear parliamentary majority in this week’s elections. The victory dealt a blow to several pro-Russian parties and increases the likelihood that the country will pursue EU membership. Members of PAS emphasized solidarity in advancing this goal, campaigning on promises to fight corruption, curb Russian influence, raise incomes, and modernize infrastructure.
raptor
noun: a carnivorous bird that hunts other animals
From the headlines: A raptor was crowned New Zealand’s bird of the year in a popular annual poll. The kārearea, or New Zealand falcon, reaches speeds of over 100 miles per hour when it hunts, preying mainly on smaller birds. Experts describe the large, striking kārearea as being mysterious, quick, and sneaky. It has a threatened status, with about 5,000 remaining in the country, and is vulnerable to outdoor cats and invasive mammals.
resilient
adjective: recovering readily from adversity, depression, or the like
From the headlines: A recent study reveals that the Amazon’s largest trees are more resilient than previously believed. Researchers discovered that mature forests hold up more strongly than expected against climate change, recovering quickly from rising temperatures while absorbing vast amounts of carbon dioxide. Still, experts caution that these resilient giants remain vulnerable to threats like clearcutting and wildfires.
shantytown
noun: a city district with large numbers of makeshift dwellings
From the headlines: Archaeologists found evidence that after Vesuvius erupted and buried the city of Pompeii, a few survivors moved back and established a fragile shantytown. Most Romans left the area permanently, but newly uncovered artifacts show that some people made makeshift homes in the tops of the entombed buildings.
stymie
verb: to hinder, block, or thwart
From the headlines: California police were stymied when they tried to issue a ticket for an illegal U-turn and found that the offending car was a Waymo autonomous vehicle. San Bruno officers approached the car after pulling it over and realized it was an empty, driverless robotaxi. Frustrated in their attempt to write a citation for the violation, as there was no driver, the officers informed Waymo about the car’s glitch.
synergistic
adjective: working together for an enhanced effect
From the headlines: Canadian and U.S. astronauts spoke about an upcoming mission, emphasizing the importance of nations working together in a synergistic way. The crew of Artemis II, which will travel around the moon in February, focused on themes of cooperation and collaboration. Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen said he hoped the mission would inspire people to say, “Wow, look at what we can do when we work together!”
voracious
adjective: devouring or craving food in great quantities
From the headlines: On Maclellan Island, a nature reserve in a Tennessee river, conservationists enlisted a herd of goats to combat invasive species. The 19-acre island had become choked with English ivy and other aggressive plants, so the Chattanooga Audubon Society brought in six voracious grazers. Over the summer, the goats devoured the weeds with ease, clearing five acres to make space for native wildflowers to flourish.
