5,000 new words just dropped — but do we actually need them?

Merriam-Webster announced Thursday it has taken the rare step of fully revising and reimagining one of its most popular dictionaries with a fresh edition that adds over 5,000 new words, including “petrichor,” “teraflop,” “dumbphone” and “ghost kitchen.” The 12th edition of “Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary” comes 22 years after the book’s last hard-copy update and amid declining U.S. sales for analog dictionaries overall, according to Circana BookScan. It will be released Nov. 18, with preorders now available. Petrichor, by the way, is a pleasant odor after a rainfall following a warm, dry period. Teraflop is a unit of measure for calculating the speed of a computer. Dumbphones are just that, mobile devices we used before the smartphone revolution. And ghost kitchens, which came into their own during the pandemic, are commercial spaces for hire. Other additions: “cold brew,” “farm-to-table,” “rizz,” “dad bod,” “hard pass,” “adulting” and “cancel culture.” There’s also “beast mode,” “dashcam,” “doomscroll,”“WFH” and “side-eye.” So, what does it mean to add new words to our dictionary? Today on AirTalk we’re joined by Grant Barrett, lexicographer, linguist, and co-host of the language-related public radio show A Way with Words, and Ilan Stavans, professor of humanities, Latin American, and Latino Culture at Amherst College in Massachusetts

With files from Associated Press

We don’t like being wrong — why?

The end of the world was supposed to come on Tuesday, but (and you may know this by now) it didn’t. This time around, the prediction was based loosely on the Christian faith’s notion of the rapture, a series of apocalyptic events foretold in the last book of the bible. The prediction spread rapidly on social media, with unconfirmed reports of many people making life-altering decisions under the assumption life would be ending shortly anyways. But not only were these world-enders wrong, they were faced with the undeniable fact that they were. What happens to our brains when we realize we’re not only wrong, but that the truth is completely unavoidable? Why do some of us react with anger or sadness at being proven wrong? Shouldn’t we just want to be right and not care about how we got to the correct conclusion? Today, we dig into the psychology of defensiveness, especially when we know we’re wrong. Joining us today to talk about why we often hate being wrong is Mike Brooks, licensed psychologist. We also want to hear from you! Tell us about a time you realized you were utterly wrong and how you handled it. Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or you can email us at atcomments@laist.com.

From Padua to a place near you-a, Pasta Sisters brings authentic Italian cuisine to Los Angeles

Although the Italian restaurant Pasta Sisters opened 10 years ago, the history of its food goes back much further. Hailing from Padua, a small town in Northern Italy, chef and owner Paola Da Re decided in 2010 to move to the United States with her children, eventually opening their first restaurant in 2015. Every dish the restaurant sells has its own story, from their pasta dishes to their desserts. First opening its doors in Mid-City, they built their customer base enough that they eventually opened up locations in Culver City and Costa Mesa. Today on AirTalk, we'll talk about the last 10 years of pasta-making, and all that came before, with Giorgia Sinatra, creative director and co-owner of Pasta Sisters.

FilmWeek: ‘One Battle After Another,’ ‘Eleanor the Great,’ ‘Predators,’ and more!

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Christy Lemire and Manuel Betancourt review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Films:

One Battle After Another Wide Release

Eleanor the Great In Select Theaters

All of You Laemmle NoHo|Streaming on Apple TV+

Dead of Winter In Select Theaters

Predators Laemmle Royal [West LA] & Alamo Drafthouse DTLA

Strange Journey - The Story of Rocky Horror In Select Theaters

Plainclothes Landmark Sunset [West Hollywood]

All the Devils Are Here Available on VOD

Adulthood Laemmle Glendale|Available on VOD

Feature: Jaws: The Exhibition opens at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures

Widely credited with creating the modern summer blockbuster in 1975, Steven Spielberg's Jaws has captured the imaginations (and entered the nightmares) of audiences ever since. For Jaws’ 50th anniversary, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures has created an all-ages experience: combining unprecedented behind-the-scenes access and interactive elements. The unique structure of the exhibit will take visitors scene by scene through the film, exploring the iconic story in an entirely new way. Today on FilmWeek, Larry Mantle is joined by Jenny He, Senior Exhibitions Curator, to talk about the exhibit and the film’s enduring legacy.

Jaws: The Exhibition is open at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures now through July 26, 2026. You can get more information and tickets for the exhibition here.