In a lonely world, widespread AI chatbots and ‘companions’ pose unique psychological risks
Within two days of launching its AI companions last month, Elon Musk’s xAI chatbot app Grok became the most popular app in Japan.
Science
Explore groundbreaking discoveries and research across physics, biology, chemistry, and more. Science on CurioAtlas makes complex ideas accessible and sparks curiosity about the world around us.
Mitch Brown’s bravery can change the score for LGBTQIA+ people—and the AFL’s fight against homophobia
It has been a challenging few weeks for both the AFL and LGBTQIA+ communities, with a sixth incident of homophobia in the men’s competition since the league’s crackdown on this damaging language.
Meet Surya, the 1st-of-its-kind AI model NASA and IBM built to predict solar storms
A new NASA-IBM algorithm called Surya could be a major leap in space weather forecasting.
Why fans feel like Taylor Swift’s best friend (even if she’s never met them)
When Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announced their engagement on Instagram this week, the post wasn’t just news; it was an event fans felt personally invested in. The photos of Swift showing off her new ring, paired with the playful…
What Taylor Swift reveals about digital culture
Paula Clare Harper, AB’10, studies music, sound and the internet. An assistant professor of music at the University of Chicago, she coedited a collection of essays brought together in the book “Taylor Swift: The Star, the Songs, the Fans” and…
Scientists recreate life’s first step: Linking amino acids to RNA
Researchers demonstrated how amino acids could spontaneously attach to RNA under early Earth-like conditions using thioesters, providing a long-sought clue to the origins of protein synthesis. This finding bridges the “RNA world” and “thioester world” theories and suggests how life’s…
Research probes AI’s role in helping social workers make crucial decisions
In the discussion around artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, Sanmay Das has found one constant: While many people believe that some jobs can be replaced by AI, they believe that their own job is far too nuanced and complex to…
Why do we photograph the Milky Way in summer?
The Milky Way is a spectacular sight in the summer skies but why does it look so much more brilliant than it does in the winter?
10 of the best stargazing locations in North America
Here’s where to find very dark skies in the U.S. and Canada.
Women earn 25% less than men in wealthy households, finds new study
New research by Dr. Vanessa Gash into the gender pay gap finds strong divides across class, and that part-time work has the same negative lifetime impact on earning potential as long-term sickness.