Ripped from the Headlines: October 2024: This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for October 6–October 12, 2024

On October 6, Pope Francis named 21 new cardinals. This group of senior Roman Catholic clergy members will decide the pope's eventual successor. Known for their red hats, or galeros, the cardinals are mainly bishops and archbishops, selected from a range of backgrounds. After the current pontiff dies or retires, these dignitaries usually choose a fellow cardinal to succeed him. The red birds called cardinals are named after the clergy members' bright hats.

Starting next year, every New York City resident will be legally required to compost their food scraps. Curbside collection of organic matter like vegetable peels, used tea leaves, egg shells, and other food waste began this week, giving New Yorkers in all five boroughs about six months to get used to composting. The Latin root of compost is componere, "to put together."

Scientists are developing energy efficient air conditioners by focusing on dehumidifying instead of cooling. Experts say it's moisture in the air that's especially dangerous to human health as temperatures continue to rise. Humidity, which is increasing because warm air holds more water vapor, makes it harder for people to cool themselves by sweating. New air conditioners will make the air feel drier, making it more comfortable even at higher temperatures.

A nonpartisan analysis found that plans from both major-party presidential candidates would increase the national debt. The Committee for Responsible Federal Budget put the cost of Kamala Harris's economic proposals at $3.5 trillion and said Donald Trump's plans would put the country deeper in debt by $7.5 trillion. The U.S. faces "an unprecedented fiscal situation," according to the group, with a rising deficit and national debt. The Latin root of fiscal means "money bag."

Two American scientists won the Nobel Prize in medicine for their discovery of microRNA. The new Nobel laureates, Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun, were acclaimed for research that the committee described as "fundamentally important for how organisms develop and function." The award was the first of the six Nobel categories to be announced; Ambros and Ruvkun will be among the other recipients of the prestigious honor at a ceremony on December 10.

A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine says that inadequate outdoor time increases the risk of myopia in kids. Among several factors found to raise the chances of nearsightedness in children, too many hours spent inside was the most evident. Researchers say young eyes should be exposed to natural light for at least two hours every day. The rate of myopia, in which distant objects look blurry, has risen sharply over the past three decades.

Two small towns in Argentina have been overrun by a vast flock of parrots over the past year. The bright tropical birds now far outnumber the humans in Pedro Luro and Hilario Ascasubi, where as many as 70,000 of the red, yellow, and green-feathered avian inhabitants settle on power lines every night. Their screeches keep villagers awake, and regular power outages occur when the birds bite through cables. It's unclear how to fix the situation, as the parrots are protected by law.

Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, allegedly plagiarized a recent speech to the UN general assembly from the TV drama The West Wing. A Buenos Aires newspaper reported that Milei had stolen a section, word for word, from a monologue by the show's fictional president, Jed Bartlet, who was played by Martin Sheen. Milei's chief strategist is said to be a fan of the show who has seen it "between seven and nine times." The Latin root of plagiarize means "to kidnap."

For the first time in NBA history, a father and son shared court time. The unprecedented moment occurred when Bronny James, playing for the Los Angeles Lakers against Phoenix, joined LeBron James on the court during the second quarter. Never before have a parent and child played in the same NBA game — not to mention as members of the same team. Bronny, the oldest son of 22-season star LeBron, was the Lakers' second-round draft pick this summer.

Around the world, vigils and protests marked the one-year anniversary of attacks by Hamas in Israel. Candlelight memorial services were held to commemorate the 1,200 people killed that day, as well as 250 who were taken hostage by militants. Protests and gatherings also mourned the tens of thousands of Palestinians and at least 2,000 Lebanese killed so far in Israel's ensuing war. Vigil is from the Latin vigilia, "watchfulness."