global boiling noun [U]
UK /ˌgləʊ.bəl ˈbɔɪ.lɪŋ/ US /ˌgloʊ.bəl ˈbɔɪ.lɪŋ/
a very fast and sharp increase in world temperatures caused by gases such as carbon dioxide that are collecting in the air around the earth and stopping heat escaping into space

The era of global warming has ended and “the era of global boiling has arrived”, the UN secretary general, António Guterres, has said after scientists confirmed July was on track to be the world’s hottest month on record.
[theguardian.com, 27 July 2023]

heat storm noun [C]
UK /ˈhiːt ˌstɔːm/ US /ˈhiːt ˌstɔːrm/
a period of extremely hot weather and high humidity that lasts several days

Europe is preparing for a “severe heat storm” with a second heatwave pushing temperatures even higher in the coming days and triggering warnings for tourists planning to travel for the school holidays. The new “heat storm” is being triggered by an anticyclone – a large-scale circulation of winds around an area of high atmospheric pressure – pushing north.
[telegraph.co.uk, 16 July 2023]

cooling centre noun [C]
UK /ˈkuː.lɪŋ ˌsen.təʳ/ US /ˈkuː.lɪŋ ˌsen.t̬ɚ/
a place such as a library, museum or other public building where someone can go to cool down in periods of severe hot weather, run as a public service and providing air conditioning, cold water and other facilities

Some community centres and most public library branches have air-conditioned spaces. These facilities become cooling centres when Environment Canada issues a heat warning or declares an extreme heat emergency. You don’t need to register, pay, or show identification to visit a cooling centre.
[vancouver.ca/home-property-development, 28 July 2023]

About new words

autobesity noun [U]
UK /ˌɔː.təʊˈbiː.sə.ti/ US /ˌɑː.t̬oʊˈbiː.sə.t̬i/
the fact of cars being much bigger and heavier than they were in the past

Paris city hall is to impose higher parking fees on owners of SUVs in its battle to reduce pollution in the capital. A councillor from the party that proposed the increased charges said the aim was “to focus on an absurdity: autobesity … the inexorable growth in the weight and size of vehicles circulating in our cities, and particularly in Paris”.
[theguardian.com, 11 July 2023]

motonormativity noun [U]
UK /ˌməʊ.təʊ.nɔː.mə.ˈtɪv.ə.ti/ US /ˌmoʊ.t̬oʊ.nɔːr.mə.ˈt̬ɪv.ə.t̬i /
a way of thinking that means people accept problems and risks related to travelling by car that they would not find acceptable in other aspects of their lives

British people appear to have an in-built acceptance of risks and harms from motor vehicles that they would not accept in other parts of life, with potentially widespread repercussions for how policy decisions are made. Such is the cultural ubiquity of these assumptions, described by the researchers as “motonormativity”, that politicians are less likely to try to tackle issues such as pollution from vehicles or poor driving, they warned.
[modeshift.org.uk, 19 January 2023]

MaaS noun [S]
/ˌem.eɪ.eɪˈes/
abbreviation for “mobility as a service”: a service that allows users to book and pay for all the different types of transport needed for a journey from a single platform such as an app.

Simply put, MaaS is the concept of on-demand transportation, where a single digital platform offers riders the most efficient, seamless connection from point A to point B possible. By combining and coordinating various modes of transportation services, riders can effortlessly reach their destination at any time of the day or night.
[ecolane.com, 17 January 2023]

About new words

candyceutical noun [usually plural]
UK /ˌkæn.diˈsuː.tɪ.kᵊl/ US /ˌkæn.diˈsuː.t̬ɪ.kᵊl/
a small, chewy, coloured sweet that contains vitamins or other ingredients to improve your health

The booming market in chewable supplements needs to be taken seriously because these products “aren’t benign”, health experts have warned. The appearance and marketing of these so-called “candyceuticals” has a role to play in their attraction, experts say.
[diabetes.co.uk, 5 July 2023]

pangenome noun [U]
UK /ˌpænˈdʒiː.nəʊm/ US /ˌpænˈdʒiː.noʊm/
the complete set of genetic material of humans from different geographical and ethnic origins

More than 20 years after scientists first released a draft sequence of the human genome, the book of life has been given a long-overdue rewrite. Unlike the previous reference the new “pangenome” incorporates near-complete genetic sequences from 47 men and women of diverse origins, including African Americans, Caribbean Islanders, East Asians, West Africans and South Americans.
[nytimes.com, 10 May 2023]

robotherapist noun [C]
UK /ˈrəʊ.bəʊ.θer.ə.pɪst/ US /ˈroʊ.boʊ.θer.ə.pɪst/
a robot that can massage someone to treat pain and injury, in a similar way to a physiotherapist

Enter the Backhug: a robotic therapist equipped with 26 mechanical fingers to scan the unique curvature of your spine and press away stiffness in the joints of your back, neck and shoulders. When I was invited to try one of these “robotherapists”, I jumped at the chance. Despite taking regular exercise, I suffer from many complaints, and was intrigued to see what difference six weeks of daily massage could make.
[theguardian.com, 7 July 2023]

About new words

agrivoltaics noun [S]
UK /ˌæg.rɪ.vəʊlˈteɪ.ɪks/ US /ˌæg.rə.voʊlˈteɪ.ɪks/
the use of the same piece of land to grow crops and to create energy through solar panels

Putting solar panels on farmland, known as agrivoltaics, has been a bit of a political hot-potato in some parts of Europe and the U.S. For environmental engineer Chad Higgins, the choice between farmland and energy is a false one. There has to be thoughtful design, he says, but “our research indicates they can coexist and even create mutual benefits”. Indeed, agrivoltaics projects are springing up across the globe, especially in Asia.
[reuters.com, 20 March 2023]

Pyrocene noun [S]
UK /ˈpaɪ.rə.siːn/ US /ˈpaɪ.roʊ.siːn/
the present era, in which there are more frequent and more serious wildfires as a result of climate change

Geologists have renamed the present era as the “Pyrocene”, the age of fire, taking over from the Holocene epoch which dated from the last Ice Age. Fires are increasing in prevalence and intensity everywhere, adding to the cascading list of interlocking environmental disasters.
[independentaustralia.net, 8 November 2022]

gigafire noun [C]
UK /ˈɡɪɡ.ə.faɪəʳ/ US /ˈɡɪɡ.ə.faɪr/
a wildfire that burns more than 1 million acres (405,000 hectares) of land

What initially began as 37 separate fires caused by lightning strikes came together to form California’s first gigafire, a term used to describe fires that burn at least a million acres of land. The gigafire ranks at the top of the state’s five largest wildfires in modern history, all in one year.
[laist.com, 5 October, 2022]

About new words

salt tooth noun [S]
UK /ˌsɒlt ˈtuːθ/ US /ˌsɑːlt ˈtuːθ/
If you have a salt tooth, you like eating savoury foods, especially crisps, chips, etc.

Would you always choose crisps over chocolate? You’re not alone. While many of us may admit to a sweet tooth, more than 40 per cent of people have a weakness for salty rather than sugary flavours. Experts call this phenomenon a salt tooth, and it’s becoming more common. For while some people are genetically programmed to crave salt, others are now developing a salt tooth as a result of the prevalence of highly processed, salty food in our diet.
[irishnews.com, 18 June 2023]

food noise noun [U]
/ˈfuːd ˌnɔɪz/
the constant thoughts about food that some people have when they are trying to lose weight

Losing weight is never an easy feat. Besides implementing new nutrition and lifestyle choices, Another thing that can make losing weight (and keeping it off) more difficult is something called “food noise.” If you’ve ever wondered why you’re hungry all the time, even if you just ate, or find yourself consistently planning your next meal, you may be dealing with food noise.
[parade.com, 3 May 2023]

lion diet noun [S]
/ˈlaɪ.ən ˌdaɪ.ət/
a type of eating plan in which someone eats only meat from certain animals and no other types of food for a limited period of time

Are you a complete carnivore and love your meat? Well, then the lion diet may be something to your liking. A meat-based diet that focuses on eliminating major food groups and beverages from your meals, the eating pattern involves only consuming salt, water, and meat from ruminant animals (including beef, lamb, goat, bison, and deer). But why? To identify food sensitivities.
[indianexpress.com, 10 May 2023]

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