Ripped from the Headlines: March 2021: This Week In Words: Current Events Vocab for March 6–12, 2021

Biologists were astonished when an albatross believed to be at least 70 years old hatched a chick on a small sliver of land in the Pacific Ocean near the Hawaiian islands. The bird, named Wisdom by U.S. Fish and Wildlife scientists, is the oldest known banded wild albatross in the world. These birds have mostly white feathers and a wingspan that can reach 12 feet long. The spelling of albatross is influenced by the Latin alba, "white."

March 11 marked the one-year anniversary of the WHO's official declaration that the coronavirus outbreak was a pandemic. Though the new virus had already been circulating for months by March 11, 2020, that was the date health experts confirmed worldwide spread. One year ago, there were about 118,000 Covid-19 cases in 115 countries; as of March 11, 2021, there have been more than 117 million cases and over two million deaths.

Nomadland won big at the Critics' Choice Awards on March 7, receiving six nominations and winning four awards. The film nabbed wins for best picture and best cinematography, and Chloé Zhao won both best director and best adapted screenplay. The awards, which honor achievement in both film and television, are presented by the American-Canadian Critics Choice Association.

March 7 was the 56th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday,” the day peaceful civil rights marchers in Selma, Alabama were beaten by state troopers. President Biden marked the day by signing an executive order meant to preserve and expand voting rights. The order makes it easier for states to automatically register voters and to promote voter registration information.

Marine biologists studying the deep waters off the coast of New Zealand discovered that kitefin sharks glow in the dark, making this species the largest known bioluminescent — or glowing — vertebrate on Earth. Kitefin sharks, which can be up to six feet long, emit a dazzling blue-green light that makes them visible in even the deepest water. Glow derives from the Old English glowan, "to shine as if red-hot."

The CDC updated its coronavirus guidelines this week, announcing that people who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 can gather indoors together without masks. Public health officials continue to advise mask-wearing and social distancing in public, but the new guidelines are good news for many who have been isolated from friends and family members. The CDC continues to caution against travel, as case numbers remain high around the country.

As jury selection began for the murder trial of the the police officer charged in the 2020 death of George Floyd, attorneys on both sides faced the challenge of finding impartial jurors. Publicity and outrage around Floyd's death, which sparked a massive and divisive racial justice movement, meant that many potential jurors had already formed strong opinions about the case.

Since Iran declined the Biden administration's offer last month to restart nuclear talks, the two countries have been at an impasse. Iran refuses to rejoin negotiations over its nuclear weapons without financial incentives, and the U.S. has rejected that demand. Impasse was originally used in a literal way, to mean "dead end road."

The pandemic relief package passed by Congress on March 10 includes one year of guaranteed income for most parents. Some Democrats who have long supported the idea of a universal basic income see this provision as a first step in that direction. The $1.9 trillion stimulus bill would provide the majority of parents with up to $300 per month for each child. Income originally meant "entrance," but the word evolved to mean "money that comes in as payment."

CDC researchers studying infection and death rates found that in areas of the U.S. without mask mandates, Covid-19 spread more widely and resulted in more deaths. Scientists acknowledged that the study doesn't prove the absence of such rules directly caused the rise in infections, but they noted a strong correlation between mask mandates and a lower rate of infection and death.

A gathering of around 800 students near the University of Colorado in Boulder turned into a melee and ended with police using tear gas on the crowd. Three police officers and dozens of students were injured during the confrontation. Melee is from the Old French meslee, "brawl," and its root meaning "to mix."

On the evening of Sunday, March 7, observers in northern Vermont saw a meteor streak through the sky, rattling buildings as it passed. Astronomers estimated the meteor was moving at a rate of 42,000 miles per hour and said the rattling sounds and tremors were caused by a "pressure wave" that occurred when the meteor broke into fragments. Meteor comes from the Greek meteōron, "thing high up."

Afghan farmers and tribal elders successfully negotiated a ten-day cease-fire with the Taliban. People living in the district of Panjwai in Kandahar Province will get a break from a recent increase in fighting during a war that's lasted more than 40 years. The informal cease-fire will be enforced from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., allowing farmers to work safely during the day. Weeks of negotiations led to the temporary agreement.

Maia Chaka made history this week when the NFL named her as the first Black female referee on its roster of game officials. She will take the field for the first time next season. Before Sarah Thomas joined the roster in 2015, all of the NFL's 121 game officials were men. Referee was first used in a sports context in the 1820s, for soccer officials who were "referred to" to resolve disputes.

Two species of sea slug, Elysia marginata and Elysia atroviridis, are able to stay alive after losing their heads and to regenerate entirely new bodies. Scientists have learned that the slugs decapitate themselves on purpose, tearing their own heads off in order to regrow healthier bodies. Regenerate comes from the Late Latin regenerationem, "a being born again."

Oprah Winfrey’s televised sit-down with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry generated buzz on both sides of the pond. The interview was full of shocking revelations. Markle spoke out about the mental health crisis she experienced in the face of relentless negative attention from the British media. She also revealed that a member of the royal family expressed concern about the color of her unborn son’s skin. Revelation comes from a Latin root meaning "uncover or lay bare."

Animal sanctuaries around the U.S. are making it possible for people who feel especially isolated by the pandemic to cuddle with a cow. Whether they're grieving the loss of a loved one or longing to hug their friends, animal lovers are finding comfort by wrapping their arms around a bovine neck. Sanctuary workers say the cows like the cuddling too! The Latin root of sanctuary is sanctus, "holy."

The tiny Spanish village of Gósol has seen yearly decreases in population for decades and anticipated having to close its only school. While Spain has lost over 70,000 people to Covid-19, the pandemic has had a silver lining for Gósol. About 30 new residents, seeking a rural setting away from busy cities, have moved there this year, enough to keep the school open and the village thriving.

In every country on Earth, tourism has slowed dramatically over the past year. Conservation experts say this has had a positive effect on wildlife in many parts of the world. Reduced noise pollution from Alaskan cruise ships has helped whales, and empty Thai beaches have allowed turtles to lay eggs in peace. However, in many countries tourism funds wildlife conservation efforts, and in the absence of such efforts, poaching and illegal logging have increased.

At Sunday's NBA All-Star Game, Giannis Antetokounmpo was named Most Valuable Player after scoring 16 out of 16 shots. The Milwaukee Bucks star made three successful three-point shots, two of which he banked in unintentionally. The game marked the 70th annual All-Star event, and Antetokounmpo collected the Kobe Bryant Trophy after helping bring Team LeBron to victory.