Even in the ultra-dry Atacama Desert, tiny soil-dwelling nematodes are thriving in surprising diversity. Credit: Shutterstock New research reveals that life beneath the surface of one of the driest places on Earth is far more resilient and diverse than many scientists expected. An international team led by the University of Cologne studied tiny soil worms known as nematodes in Chile's Atacama Desert. Often compared to polar deserts, the Atacama is considered one of the most arid regions in the