Atacama surprise: The world’s driest desert is teeming with hidden life

Atacama surprise: The world’s driest desert is teeming with hidden life

Even in the ultra-dry Atacama Desert, tiny soil-dwelling nematodes are thriving in surprising diversity. Scientists found that biodiversity increases with moisture and altitude shapes which species survive. In the most extreme zones, many nematodes reproduce asexually — a possible survival advantage. The discovery suggests that life in arid regions may be far richer, and more fragile, than once believed.

ChatGPT as a therapist? New study reveals serious ethical risks

ChatGPT as a therapist? New study reveals serious ethical risks

As millions turn to ChatGPT and other AI chatbots for therapy-style advice, new research from Brown University raises a serious red flag: even when instructed to act like trained therapists, these systems routinely break core ethical standards of mental health care. In side-by-side evaluations with peer counselors and licensed psychologists, researchers uncovered 15 distinct ethical risks — from mishandling crisis situations and reinforcing harmful beliefs to showing biased responses and offering “deceptive empathy” that mimics care without real understanding.

A quiet night

A quiet night

Julie Machado, taken from Coromandel, New Zealand The spectacular southern sky over the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand is filled with the arch of the Milky Way, the Magellanic Clouds, and vast glowing complexes of hydrogen in this panorama. The photographer used a Sony mirrorless camera and 35mm lens at f/1.4 and ISO 100 to Continue reading "A quiet night" The post A quiet night appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .

The Sky Today on Monday, March 2: The Moon passes Regulus

The Sky Today on Monday, March 2: The Moon passes Regulus

Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  March 1: Some last views of Saturn The nearly Full Moon passes just 0.4° north of Regulus at 8 A.M. EST; you can catch the pair close together in the predawn sky, standing roughly 20° high in the west two hours before Continue reading "The Sky Today on Monday, March 2: The Moon passes Regulus" The post The Sky Today on Monday, March 2: The Moon passes Regulus appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .

Wireless retinal implant helps blind patients see again

Wireless retinal implant helps blind patients see again

A tiny wireless implant is giving new hope to people blinded by advanced age-related macular degeneration. In a major international clinical trial, more than 80% of participants regained meaningful central vision, with many able to read letters and even words again after years of decline. The device replaces damaged light-sensing cells in the retina with a 2×2 mm implant that converts light into electrical signals, restoring communication between the eye and the brain.

Hidden oceans on icy moons may be boiling beneath the surface

Hidden oceans on icy moons may be boiling beneath the surface

Icy moons circling the outer planets may be far more dynamic—and explosive—than they appear. New research suggests that when heat from tidal forces melts their ice shells from below, the sudden drop in pressure could cause hidden oceans to boil beneath the surface. On smaller moons like Enceladus, Mimas, and Miranda, this process may help explain strange features such as Enceladus’ tiger stripes and Miranda’s towering cliffs.

A tiny twist creates giant magnetic skyrmions in 2D crystals

A tiny twist creates giant magnetic skyrmions in 2D crystals

Twisting atomically thin magnetic layers does more than reshape their electronics—it can create giant, topological magnetic textures. In chromium triiodide, researchers observed skyrmion-like patterns stretching far beyond the expected moiré scale, reaching hundreds of nanometers. Even more surprising, their size doesn’t simply follow the twist pattern but peaks at a specific angle. This twist-controlled magnetism could pave the way for low-power spintronic devices built from geometry alone.

Why tipping keeps rising and may not improve service

Why tipping keeps rising and may not improve service

Why do we tip—even when we know we’ll never see the server again? New research suggests it’s not just about rewarding good service, but about social pressure. Some people tip out of genuine appreciation, while others simply follow the norm. But here’s the twist: those who truly value great service tend to tip more than average, and everyone else adjusts upward to match them.