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 Pompeii, diamonds, and a heroic doctor all contributed to the vocabulary from this week’s news.
carat
noun: a unit of weight in gemstones equivalent to 200 milligrams
From the headlines: After digging for gems at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas for three weeks, a woman found a 2.3 carat white diamond. Micherre Fox camped at night and resumed her hunt each morning, hoping to find a gem to use for a ring to mark her engagement to her fiancé, Trevor Ballou. After hours spent sifting through dirt and silt with her hands, the stone Fox finally found was large enough to grant her naming rights: she dubbed it the Fox-Ballou Diamond.
cairn
noun: a heap of stones set up as a landmark, monument, tombstone, etc.
From the headlines: A British man is on a mission to warn people about the harmful effects of stacking stones along the Mam Tor hiking trail. In Stuart Cox’s viral videos, in which he kicks over cairns built by hikers, he also gives a compelling explanation for why he does it. Cox’s argument, shared by environmentalists, is that taking the stones from ancient walls disrupts many species’ habitats and hastens erosion.
dredge
verb: to remove sand, silt, mud, etc., from the bottom of something
From the headlines: Many U.S. coastal communities are working to restore threatened ecosystems using silt removed from other waterways to protect against rising sea levels and destructive storms. Along the Gulf Coast, new projects include dredging sediment from less vulnerable areas of the Mississippi River and using it to rebuild eroded marshes and swamps, raising their levels and protecting life in these sensitive habitats.
lineage
noun: descent from an ancestor
From the headlines: New research indicates that potatoes may share part of their lineage with tomatoes. For years, scientists have debated the genetic origins of potatoes, since some of their DNA aligns closely with tomatoes while other genes resemble those of plants called Etuberosum. The latest analysis suggests that the potato’s lineage stems from an ancient interbreeding event about nine million years ago, making both tomatoes and Etuberosum ancestors of the starchy tuber we eat today.
memorabilia
noun: mementos; souvenirs
From the headlines: Costumes and memorabilia from the popular television show Downton Abbey will be auctioned off to benefit a U.K. charity for children. The auction includes period outfits worn by characters including the Dowager Countess, Mr. Carson, and Lady Mary Crawley. Keepsakes from the film set like hatboxes, a silver pocket watch, and a collection of doorknobs will also be sold.
monsoon
noun: the seasonal wind of the Indian Ocean and southern Asia; the rainfall associated with these winds
From the headlines: Monsoons and floods have killed more than 400 people in Pakistan over the past week. The rainy season, which lasts from June to September, has grown longer and more extreme with the warming climate. Instead of gradually swelling rivers, this summer’s deluges have rapidly overflowed their banks and swept stormwater through cities and villages. As the rain continues to fall, Pakistan’s aging plumbing systems have been overwhelmed, leaving entire neighborhoods submerged in water.
neurology
noun: the science of the nerves and the nervous system, especially of the diseases affecting them
From the headlines: Dr. Alieu Kamara, Sierra Leone’s first and only neurosurgeon, is giving patients with severe head and spinal injuries a chance at recovery. After completing medical school in China and returning home, he pursued additional training in neurology when he recognized the urgent need for expertise in his small West African nation. Thanks to his work, patients who previously had little hope now have access to specialized care.
powwow
noun: a large gathering organized by Native Americans for socializing, dancing, singing, and celebrating their culture
From the headlines: Organizers of North America’s largest powwow say the 2026 event will be their last. The Gathering of Nations, an annual cultural event celebrating Indigenous traditions, attracts thousands of participants and spectators to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Since 1983, the gathering has been a major showcase for Native American dancing, music, and art.
Fun fact: The Algonquian root of powwow means “one who dreams.”
synergy
noun: the interaction of elements that when combined produce a total effect that is greater than the sum of the individual elements
From the headlines: Investigators described the arrest of a tourist in Pompeii as a “perfect example of synergy” among a tour guide, park staff, and local police. Their coordinated efforts led to the arrest of a man caught stealing stones from the historic site, resulting in theft charges and the possibility of a year in prison. Beyond breaking the law, his act also brought attention to a local legend warning that anyone who removes artifacts from Pompeii is cursed with bad luck.
template
noun: anything that determines or serves as a pattern; a model
From the headlines: A recent study shows that young chimpanzees use their mothers as a kind of “social template” for learning how to communicate. By carefully watching their mothers and maternal relatives, young chimps adopt similar vocal and visual signals. Fathers, on the other hand, are less involved in daily care and do not appear to pass down their habits in the same way.
