Ripped from the Headlines: January 2025: This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for January 19–January 25, 2025

In Iceland, a new indoor farm uses extra power from a nearby geothermal plant to grow algae. The company working to cultivate the tiny organisms inside bubbling columns of water is called Vaxa Technologies. Scientists have been studying algae's potential as a nutrition-dense, sustainable food source for humans, one that releases no carbon dioxide as it goes through photosynthesis. Currently, the aquatic crop is mainly used for supplements and food additives.

A cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas went into effect on January 19. Palestinian militants began releasing some of the Israeli hostages they seized last year, and Israel freed 90 Palestinian prisoners. Exchanges of detainees will continue for at least six weeks, as fighting in Gaza will be halted under the agreement's terms. Cease-fire was originally a military command to put down weapons and stop shooting.

Scientists used DNA analysis to debunk an earlier claim that an ancient skull belonged to Cleopatra's sister. The skull had been misidentified for decades, since archaeologists interpreted the architectural style of the building where it was found to mean it must have been Arsinoë IV's burial chamber. It's taken nearly 100 years to disprove this theory. The word debunk was coined in 1923, defined as "take the bunk out of," from the "nonsense" meaning of bunk.

Africa's Swahili Coast, 66 Maine lighthouses, Gaza, and the moon all made the World Monuments Fund's 2025 list of the most endangered places. Some places on the list are threatened by climate change, while others are in peril because of war or tourism. Sites on the moon that have been recognized as historically significant face potential damage as more and more countries — and independently wealthy people — plan lunar missions.

At a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda on January 20, Donald Trump took the oath of office as the 47th President of the United States. Trump's inauguration was the first ever attended by foreign leaders, including Argentina's president and Italy's prime minister. Trump's family, the outgoing Biden administration, three former presidents, and several tech billionaires were among those attending Trump's swearing-in. The root of inauguration means "installment under good omens."

A security camera captured the moment a meteorite nearly hit a home on Prince Edward Island in Canada. Joe Velaidum returned from walking his dogs to find rocky debris covering his front path; a neighbor reported hearing a "loud bang." When he checked his security footage, Velaidum saw a space rock shattering on his walkway — with so much force that it left a dent in the brick. Scientists at the University of Alberta tested the debris and confirmed it came from a meteorite.

Russia used the Los Angeles wildfires as propaganda, falsely claiming that eight mansions belonging to Ukrainian military officials had burned down. Misleading posts on social media accounts associated with the Kremlin were viewed millions of times. According to experts in influence operations, the disinformation was part of the Russian government's ongoing campaign to portray Ukrainian officials as corrupt.

Mufasa: The Lion King had a disappointing opening last month but has since become a sleeper box office hit. The movie, a prequel to The Lion King, made 30 percent less in ticket sales its first weekend than expected, worrying Disney executives who had hoped for a hit. In the weeks since, Mufasa has become a surprising success, rising to number one and earning $600 million overseas and $200 million in the U.S. This sense of sleeper is from sports jargon.

Prince Harry's case against a British tabloid publisher reached a settlement on January 22. The Duke of Sussex had accused the sensationalist newspaper The Sun of illegally gathering information about him and his family using methods that included telephone surveillance and private detectives. News Group Newspapers, which publishes the Rupert Murdoch-owned tabloid, offered Prince Harry an apology and will pay him an undisclosed amount of money.

Just five months after the Paris Olympics, the medals won by athletes are already tarnishing and crumbling. The gold, silver, and bronze medals were made by the French luxury brand LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton. At least 100 Olympians have asked for replacements of their medals, which have begun to darken, become discolored, and even flake off in pieces. Tarnish is derived from the Old French ternir, "make dim or dull."

Scientists used a new imaging tool to reveal details in Peruvian mummies' tattoos that had never been seen before. The 1,200-year-old bodies, which belong to members of Peru's Chancay community, have ornate designs inked on their skin that have been preserved by the mummification process. Using a technique called laser-stimulated fluorescence, researchers discovered intricate lines as narrow as 0.1 millimeter wide, too small to be seen by the naked eye.