Ripped from the Headlines: June 2021: This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for June 19–June 25, 2021

Mycologists, who study mushrooms and other fungi, have increasingly gained valuable scientific data from amateur mushroom hunters. These untrained fungus enthusiasts have assisted in many important discoveries, posting their observations on a website shared by dabblers and professionals. Recently, a mycologist identified one amateur's photo as evidence of the rare "hazel gloves" mushroom, not seen in the U.S. since 1915.

While doctors don't generally recommend an antibody test after being vaccinated against coronavirus, most now suggest that some people may benefit from such a test. For patients with certain cancers, with donated organs, or who take specific medications, the right antibody test can indicate how well their immune systems are working to prevent infection. Antibody is a translation of the German Antikörper, a shortened form of a phrase meaning "anti-toxic body."

Since May of 2020, five former ballet dancers have held weekly Zoom meetings of a new "legacy council," the 152nd Street Black Ballet Legacy. All five were pioneers in the field of classical dance, in which Black ballerinas were exceedingly rare, and three of the dancers were founding members of the Dance Theater of Harlem, a trailblazing Black ballet company that launched in 1969. The group plans to institute a scholarship for young dancers of color.

Facing increased pressure from the Federal Trade Commission, Amazon acknowledged this week that it has a serious problem with bogus product reviews on its site. The fraudulent ratings are especially common among sellers based in China. Vendors often offer payment or gift cards in return for fake reviews, a practice that Amazon prohibits but, according to the FTC, inadequately regulates. Bogus was originally a noun, American slang for "counterfeit money."

Champ, one of two German shepherds belonging to President Biden and Jill Biden, died on June 19 at the age of 13. The Bidens bought Champ from a breeder in 2008, naming him after a favorite encouraging phrase of the President's late father: "Get up, champ!" They described the dog as gentle and happy, and said, “We love our sweet, good boy and will miss him always.”

A UK startup hopes to use drones to prevent plastic pollution around the world. The small, unpiloted aircraft are fitted with cameras that can detect the precise location of discarded plastic. Image recognition technology allows the drones to identify the size and type of plastic — and often its origin. This detailed information may help influence solutions, such as industry regulations or educational campaigns, to the problem of plastic pollution.

A Republican filibuster on June 22 effectively blocked a Democrat-sponsored voting rights bill. The legislation, which would expand voting access and undo the restrictive voting laws recently passed in several states, failed a test vote 50 to 50. The use of the filibuster means a supermajority of 60 votes would have been required for the bill to pass. The root of filibuster means "pirate."

On June 19, a California man was arrested for stealing 42,000 pounds of pistachios in Tulare County. The heist was just the latest in a recent spate of nut thefts in the central part of the state. Pistachios are a $5.2 billion annual business in California, and the inability to trace them once they're stolen makes them vulnerable to thieves who make off with the nuts in tractor trailers. Heist started as American slang, a variation of hoist, or "lift."

A hike in the price of lobster has resulted in some Maine restaurants selling lobster rolls for as much as $34 each. Lobster prices are at a historic high, as demand has soared above supply over the past several months. Experts point to more home cooks preparing seafood and an inefficient and unpredictable lobster industry as partial explanations for the sharp hike in cost.

An Olympic hopeful whose shoe came loose during a steeplechase race on June 21 continued leaping over hurdles, finishing with a time that kept him in the running for next month's Summer Games. Sean McGorty was near the front of 14 runners when one of them accidentally stepped on the back of his shoe. McGorty scaled two hurdles with his shoe flapping before stopping to fix it and rejoining the race. Though he finished ninth, he still qualified for the final.

Celebrities including George Clooney and Don Cheadle are collaborating on a new magnet high school in Los Angeles that will train students for jobs in the entertainment industry. The Roybal School of Film and Television Production will offer training for technical jobs like cinematography, visual effects, and engineering. The business of creating television and movies makes up a large part of the city's economy, and the school's benefactors hope it will help diversify the industry.

A man who kidnapped a lemur from the San Francisco Zoo was arrested and faces federal charges connected with the Endangered Species Act. Five-year-old James Trinh, who spotted the lemur on the playground of his preschool and correctly identified him, was credited with helping to free the animal from his captor. The 21-year-old lemur was allegedly snatched from his enclosure two days earlier by Cory John McGilloway, who may have intended to sell the rare primate.

Around the U.S., states hoping to inspire residents to get vaccinated are using lotteries as an incentive. In California last week, ten people won $1.5 million each after their coronavirus vaccines, with similar lotteries running in states including New York, Maine, Ohio, and Maryland. Officials hope people who are hesitant to get vaccinated will be enticed by the chance to be included in random drawings for large cash prizes. The root of lottery means "portion."

While most scientists remain convinced that Covid-19 was not leaked from a lab, that theory of its origin remains widespread. The majority of experts believe the novel coronavirus started naturally in an animal and moved to humans, but until that hypothesis is definitively proven, they say the possibility of a leak can't be ruled out. There is growing agreement that both scenarios of the virus's genesis must be explored. The Latin root of origin means "a rise or beginning."

By June 24, a humorous petition to stop the founder of Amazon from returning to Earth after his upcoming 11-minute space voyage had more than 116,000 signatures. Jeff Bezos is also the owner of Blue Origin, the maker of the private space capsule that will transport him and three other people into orbit July 20.

Pottery made by David Drake, an enslaved American artist, is being acquired by museums and setting records at auctions. Drake's stoneware pots, made in South Carolina during the mid-1830s, are notable for their diary-like inscriptions, and their size — some of the pieces are as large as 40 gallons. The pottery is made of red or white clay and glossy with alkaline glaze, a specialty of the region at that time.

U.S. swimmer Simone Manuel qualified for the Olympics when she won the 50-meter freestyle on June 20. On the last day of Olympic trials, in a race that lasted less than 30 seconds, Manuel officially made it onto Team USA just 0.01 seconds ahead of her nearest rival. Three days earlier, her place on the team appeared to be in jeopardy after she failed to qualify for the 100-meter freestyle finals.

In response to last month's detention of an opposition journalist, the U.S. and the EU imposed economic sanctions on Belarus. In a joint statement, the nations expressed concern regarding the Belarusian government's continued human rights abuses and called for President Aleksandr Lukashenko to release all political prisoners. The sanctions will affect a range of industries.

The president of the Tokyo Olympics announced on June 21 that Japanese spectators will be permitted to attend the Games next month. High rates of coronavirus had led to speculation that the events would be held without an audience, but as case numbers fall and the vaccination rate increases in Japan, allowing fans seems much less risky. Venues will operate at half-capacity to allow for social distancing. Spectator's Latin root is spectare, "watch."

On June 21, the United Nations marked the International Day of Yoga with online events including panel discussions and guided exercise sessions. The Permanent Mission of India to the UN hosted the presentation, which had a "Yoga for well-being" theme. The ancient Indian practice includes breathing, meditation, and physical postures, providing mental, spiritual, and physical benefits. Yoga derives from a Sanskrit word meaning "unite."