Each week, we scan the latest headlines to spot words in action. From major news stories to pop culture buzz, this list highlights language as it鈥檚 unfolding. Stories about a “de-extinction process” of a long-gone wolf species, a liquid egg recall, and England’s latest political satire all contributed words to this list of vocabulary from the week’s news.
coalition
noun: a combination or alliance, especially a temporary one between persons, factions, states, etc.
From the headlines: Millions of people across all 50 states and globally took to the streets to express their concerns about the policies of President Donald Trump’s administration. A coalition of pro-democracy and pro-worker groups organized over 1,400 “Hands Off” protests nationwide. Demonstrators carried messages ranging from calls to protect civil liberties to safeguarding social programs.
contamination听
noun: to make impure or unsuitable by contact or mixture with something unclean, bad, etc.
From the headlines: The Department of Agriculture announced that concern over bleach contamination led to a recall of liquid eggs this week. Over 200,000 pounds of Egg Beaters and Bob Evans brand egg substitutes, both made by Cargill Kitchen Solutions, were recalled. The products were pulled “out of an abundance of caution” because they may contain small amounts of sodium hypochlorite, the main chemical in bleach.
ecosystem
noun: Ecology. a system, or a group of interconnected elements, formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their environment
From the headlines: The Trump administration imposed new tariffs on Australian territories Heard Island and the McDonald Islands, home to penguins and seals but no people. Australian officials called it an “obvious mistake,” but the White House defended the move as closing “loopholes.” These remote, volcanic islands, largely untouched by humans, provide a pristine ecosystem for penguins.
frond
noun: Botany. an often large, finely divided leaf, especially as applied to ferns and certain palms
From the headlines: In the wake of recent wildfires in southern California, experts say it may be time to reconsider the iconic palm trees of Los Angeles. With their hand-like fronds, palms are closely associated with the city鈥檚 skyline, but they also contribute to destructive fires. Not native to California, palms provide little shade and are hard for firefighters to control once ablaze, as their tall trunks help spread the flames.
genome
noun: Genetics. a full set of chromosomes; all the inheritable traits of an organism
From the headlines: A biotech company says it has brought back the long-extinct dire wolf by sequencing the species’ genome. Colossal Biosciences used what they call a “de-extinction process” to re-create the ancient animal, which lived about 10,000 years ago. Scientists took genetic material from fossils and the closely related gray wolf, mapping that DNA to create dire wolf puppies, which were born to surrogate dog mothers.
Indigenous
adjective: relating to or being a people who are the original, earliest known inhabitants of a region, or are their descendants
From the headlines: American tourist Mykhailo Polyakov was arrested for attempting to interact with an isolated Indigenous tribe on a remote island in the Indian Ocean. Polyakov landed on North Sentinel, hoping to film the Sentinelese, who are known to avoid outsiders and have historically reacted violently to intrusions. Although he never encountered the tribe, Polyakov was charged with violating a law protecting Indigenous peoples.
primatology
noun: the branch of zoology dealing with the primates
From the headlines: A new study suggests that calls from bonobos 鈥� chimpanzee relatives 鈥� may contain the building blocks of language. Researchers spent hundreds of hours recording and analyzing vocalizations from the small African apes, and their findings hint that bonobos can combine sounds in different ways to convey meaning. The discovery has generated real buzz in the world of primatology, where many see it as a possible window into the roots of human language. Still, some remain skeptical, questioning whether these calls truly offer new insights into how language evolved.
satire
noun: the use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or the like, to expose, denounce, or deride the folly or corruption of institutions, people, or social structures
From the headlines: England has a long tradition of using satire to comment on powerful figures. Recently, billionaire Elon Musk, Tesla CEO and head of the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency, has become a subject of this commentary. Satirical posters resembling Tesla advertisements have appeared around London, several making mocking references between alleged similarities between Musk and Hitler. One poster features Musk and President Trump in front of a Tesla, accompanied by a satirical caption about autocracy.
temperate
adjective: moderate in respect to temperature; not subject to prolonged extremes of hot or cold weather
From the headlines: Europe鈥檚 first research station for studying the ecosystem of the Atlantic temperate rainforest is being built beside an ancient forest in Cornwall, England. The new facility will allow researchers to learn more about the cool, damp habitat. It will be installed on the site of a former farm surrounded by woodland full of ferns, moss, lichens, and other plants that thrive in the mild, moist climate.
volatile听
adjective: (of prices, values, etc.) tending to fluctuate sharply and regularly
From the headlines: As the White House imposed, then paused, large tariffs on imports from countries worldwide, stock markets reacted with volatile swings. The markets fell when the tariffs were rumored, then dropped steeply once they went into effect. When President Trump announced a 90-day pause on most of the tariffs, stocks surged higher. This economic volatility has many experts predicting a looming recession.
