Ripped from the Headlines: August 2023: This Week in Words: Current Events Vocabulary for August 5–August 11, 2023

For the first time, Greece will cap the number of visitors to the Acropolis in order to curb overcrowding and protect the site. The ancient settlement, located at the top of a rocky hill overlooking the city of Athens, was overrun by more than 20,000 tourists a day before the new rules went into effect. Acropolis is derived from Greek roots, akros, "highest," and polis, "city."

The first group of 15 asylum seekers boarded a controversial U.K. housing barge on August 7. Government officials say the large, flat boat will provide a more affordable way to accommodate migrants. The floating vessel will eventually house 500 men, despite criticism from fire marshals who say the narrow corridors and tiny rooms will make it a potential "death trap," and health experts who warn of respiratory infections spreading in the poorly-ventilated space.

Many of the most famous landmarks in Los Angeles, including the iconic Hollywood sign, will celebrate centennials this year. The Biltmore Hotel, Walt Disney's original offices, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and other notable structures are all turning 100, thanks to a 1923 building boom in the city. The Hollywood sign originally advertised a housing development and was meant to be temporary. The Latin root of centennial is centum, "hundred."

A Chinese zoo has denied that some of its bears are actually people wearing bear costumes. Photos of the Hangzhou Zoo's Malaysian sun bears standing upright have been widely circulated online, with much speculation about their authenticity. Zoos in China have previously been accused of displaying painted donkeys in lieu of zebras and dogs disguised as wolves. Zoo officials strongly denounced the suggestion that their sun bears were fraudulent.

A train derailed in southern Pakistan on August 6, killing at least 30 people and injuring dozens more. The Hazara Express train was traveling from Karachi to Rawalpindi when ten cars left the tracks, several of them overturning as a result. Passengers of all ages were pulled from the wreckage and taken to local hospitals. Derailments are common accidents on Pakistan's aging railway system.

A prominent monument in Kyiv was altered this week when a Soviet emblem was replaced by Ukraine's own coat of arms. The Motherland Monument, designed to represent the strength of the Soviet Union, is a 335-foot-tall woman holding a sword and shield. Instead of the familiar hammer and sickle logo, the shield now features a Ukrainian trident symbol. Emblem, originally "an inlaid decoration," is from a Greek word meaning "to insert."

New studies show that interacting with dogs, even briefly, lowers stress hormones and increases levels of oxytocin. Researchers say that petting a dog for just five minutes affects levels of cortisol, the chemical that sends stressful messages around the body, causing it to drop significantly. These hormonal effects can be seen whether it's your own dog, or a random canine. The Greek root of hormone is hormon, "that which sets in motion."

A new national monument will protect Arizona lands that are sacred to indigenous people. On August 8, President Biden officially designated the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon a monument, which will be protected from uranium mining. The site encompasses more than a million acres which are home to several Native tribes. Baaj Nwaavjo means "where tribes roam" for the Havasupai tribe and I’tah Kukveni is "ancestral footprints" in Hopi.

Scouting associations from several countries left the 25th World Scout Jamboree in South Korea early because of safety concerns. The festival, which attracts scouts from around the world every four years, faced organizational mistakes, a heatwave, a looming typhoon, and a Covid outbreak. It's meant to be a festive 12-day gathering for Boy and Girl Scouts, but it devolved into a swampy, mosquito-infested campsite, with at least 400 scouts suffering from heat exhaustion on the first day.

Scientists say that newly discovered jellyfish fossils present strong evidence of how little the animal has changed over time. The specimens, estimated to be more than 500 million years old, include well-preserved remains of the gelatinous sea creatures. Several of the animals have 90 or more tentacles dangling from their bell-shaped bodies, making them strikingly similar to several modern jellyfish species.

Laurent Formery won the annual Global Image of the Year Scientific Light Microscopy Award with a microscopic image of a sea star's nervous system, captured in glowing hues of yellow, blue, green, pink, and purple against a black background. The competition, sponsored by a company that makes microscopes, showcases their use for photographing objects too tiny to see with the naked eye. Microscopy is from Greek roots meaning "small" and "to examine."

A man survived more than 24 hours stranded at sea in a sinking boat, surrounded by stinging jellyfish. Charles Gregory was rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard a day after his 12-foot fishing boat began to take on water off the coast of St. Augustine, Florida. While adrift alone in the ocean, Gregory endured serious sunburn and was repeatedly stung by the sea creatures.