Merriam-Webster just added 1,400 words and definitions to its dictionary, and the batch leans heavily on internet culture, AI jargon, and social-media slang that says more about the digital age than the English language. The dictionary publisher announced the update on its website this week, calling the new entries a reflection of "words and meanings […] The post Merriam-Webster drops 1,400 new words into its dictionary — and internet slang leads the way appeared first on American Almanac .
Merriam-Webster just added 1,400 words and definitions to its dictionary, and the batch leans heavily on internet culture, AI jargon, and social-media slang that says more about the digital age than the English language. The dictionary publisher announced the update on its website this week, calling the new entries a reflection of "words and meanings that have demonstrated widespread use over time, offering a window into the world today." Among the additions: "looksmaxxing," "cuffing season," "uncanny valley," "meme coin," "parasocial," "vibe coding," "shapewear," "compute," and "superfood." That window, if you take the list at face value, opens onto a culture increasingly shaped by screens, algorithms, and fleeting online trends.…Open
An Oxford researcher says the famous curves of the Parthenon were never designed to fool the human eye, and the story that they were rests on zero direct evidence. For more than two millennia, students, tourists, and architecture professors have repeated the same elegant claim: the ancient Greeks built subtle curves into the Parthenon so […] The post Oxford mathematician dismantles a 2,000-year-old myth about the Parthenon appeared first on American Almanac .
An Oxford researcher says the famous curves of the Parthenon were never designed to fool the human eye, and the story that they were rests on zero direct evidence. For more than two millennia, students, tourists, and architecture professors have repeated the same elegant claim: the ancient Greeks built subtle curves into the Parthenon so that its perfectly straight lines would not appear to sag. The idea has shown up in textbooks, documentaries, and guided tours of the Acropolis. Professor Alain Goriely, an Oxford mathematician, now argues in a peer-reviewed study that the whole thing is a myth, and always was. Goriely's paper, titled "The illusion of illusions: there are no optical corrections in the Parthenon," was published in the…Open
An Italian traveler is under investigation after customs officers at Turin's airport pulled a dried crocodile head from his checked bags, a discovery that could cost him up to $232,000 in fines or a year behind bars. The man arrived at Sandro Pertini airport in Caselle Torinese, outside Turin, after flying from Miami with a […] The post Italian man faces steep penalties after dried crocodile head turns up in his luggage at Turin airport appeared first on American Almanac .
An Italian traveler is under investigation after customs officers at Turin's airport pulled a dried crocodile head from his checked bags, a discovery that could cost him up to $232,000 in fines or a year behind bars. The man arrived at Sandro Pertini airport in Caselle Torinese, outside Turin, after flying from Miami with a stopover in Istanbul. During a routine baggage check, officers from the Guardia di Finanza, Italy's financial and customs police, found the specimen wrapped in paper inside his luggage, the New York Post reported . They seized it on the spot. The Guardia di Finanza reported the passenger for importing "a specimen belonging to a protected species without the required certificate or license." No motive was given for why…Open
Britain's king and its future king have reportedly closed ranks on one point, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will not act on behalf of the Crown, even as the couple's return to England continues to generate friction inside and outside the palace. Author Russell Myers told People magazine that King Charles, 77, and Prince William, […] The post King Charles and Prince William stand united: Harry and Meghan will not represent the royal family appeared first on American Almanac .
Britain's king and its future king have reportedly closed ranks on one point, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will not act on behalf of the Crown, even as the couple's return to England continues to generate friction inside and outside the palace. Author Russell Myers told People magazine that King Charles, 77, and Prince William, 44, are "completely united on the Sussexes not representing the royal family." The statement, published in a Tuesday cover story, went further: Myers said William will "have no relationship with them, in a working or private capacity whatsoever." The father and son are, in Myers' words, "without a doubt... in sync" on the matter. The comments land after a turbulent stretch for the Sussexes since they returned to…Open
Country singer Ella Langley earned nine nominations at the 60th CMA Awards, tying the record for most nominations by a female artist, and responded not with a victory lap but with a public declaration of faith and gratitude to the fans who got her there. Langley addressed the crowd during a concert in New Jersey […] The post Ella Langley ties CMA nominations record, credits God and fans after years of chasing her dream appeared first on American Almanac .
Country singer Ella Langley earned nine nominations at the 60th CMA Awards, tying the record for most nominations by a female artist, and responded not with a victory lap but with a public declaration of faith and gratitude to the fans who got her there. Langley addressed the crowd during a concert in New Jersey late last week, pausing her set to reflect on a career milestone that most Nashville artists never reach. Standing onstage, she told the audience that none of it would have happened without God and without the people filling seats at her shows. Her nine CMA nominations tie the all-time record for a female artist at the awards, OutKick reported , citing Billboard for the historical mark. The ceremony is set for November 18, and…Open
Unnamed sources claim WME Group's Ari Emanuel told actress Sydney Sweeney to break up with boyfriend Scooter Braun to protect her career, a charge Emanuel's representative flatly denies. The 29-year-old Euphoria star sat down with Emanuel, the executive chairman of WME Group, during a meeting in January, Page Six first reported. During that sit-down, Emanuel […] The post Sydney Sweeney reportedly pressured to end relationship with Scooter Braun by WME chairman appeared first on American Almanac .
Unnamed sources claim WME Group's Ari Emanuel told actress Sydney Sweeney to break up with boyfriend Scooter Braun to protect her career, a charge Emanuel's representative flatly denies. The 29-year-old Euphoria star sat down with Emanuel, the executive chairman of WME Group, during a meeting in January, Page Six first reported . During that sit-down, Emanuel allegedly told Sweeney she needed to end her relationship with Braun, the 45-year-old former talent manager, "if she wanted to be taken seriously as an actress and businesswoman." A representative for Emanuel denied both that the meeting took place and that he made any such statement. The story lands at a moment when Sweeney's career is in transition. She recently left Paradigm…Open
Pennsylvania hospitals are racing to contain the worst measles outbreak the United States has seen in more than three decades, with 731 cases, 141 hospitalizations, and at least four deaths recorded in 2026 alone. The epicenter is Lancaster County, where 296 confirmed cases have overwhelmed local health systems that, until this year, treated measles as […] The post Pennsylvania's measles outbreak has killed four and infected hundreds — and hospitals are scrambling to keep up appeared first on American Almanac .
Pennsylvania hospitals are racing to contain the worst measles outbreak the United States has seen in more than three decades, with 731 cases, 141 hospitalizations, and at least four deaths recorded in 2026 alone. The epicenter is Lancaster County, where 296 confirmed cases have overwhelmed local health systems that, until this year, treated measles as a medical relic. Neighboring Chester County has logged 65 cases. Dauphin County, home to the state capital, is also seeing admissions climb. Across the greater Harrisburg area, infectious disease specialists who went entire careers without encountering a single measles patient now see the virus daily. Dr. John Goldman, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Pittsburgh…Open
The House voted 220, 204 to direct President Trump to end hostilities with Iran, with seven Republicans breaking ranks in a war powers showdown that exposed growing frustration over the conflict's price tag and open-ended timeline. The late Tuesday vote marked the third time since June that the House passed a war powers resolution aimed […] The post Seven House Republicans side with Democrats on Iran war powers vote as costs top $38 billion appeared first on American Almanac .
The House voted 220, 204 to direct President Trump to end hostilities with Iran, with seven Republicans breaking ranks in a war powers showdown that exposed growing frustration over the conflict's price tag and open-ended timeline. The late Tuesday vote marked the third time since June that the House passed a war powers resolution aimed at forcing the administration's hand on Iran, but the first time the defections grew. Seven GOP members crossed the aisle, up from four in earlier rounds, handing Democrats a wider margin and a sharper political message heading into the November midterms. The seven Republicans who voted yes were Reps. Tom Barrett of Michigan, Warren Davidson of Ohio, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Nancy Mace of South…Open
Under the Biden administration, the DOJ secured the convictions of Peter Navarro and Steve Bannon, both of whom refused to testify before the House Jan. 6 Committee.