Sarah Thau is a former 2026 AAAS Mass Media Fellow for The Transmitter. She recently earned a dual B.S. in chemistry and biochemistry with honors from the University of Chicago. She has previously conducted research in radiochemistry and inorganic chemistry and is now an early-career science journalist.
Sarah Thau
AAAS Mass Media Fellow
The Transmitter
From this contributor
Wouldn’t you like to know? A mouse would
Mice seek information for curiosity’s sake—and their desire for knowledge versus a payout is represented distinctly in the brain, new findings suggest.
Brainstem neurons add new element to ‘already complex’ anxiety circuitry
Precise optogenetic modulation of a medullary neuron population reveals their role in anxiety-like behaviors.
Brainstem neurons add new element to ‘already complex’ anxiety circuitry
By
Sarah Thau
19 August 2026 | 0 min watch
How thirteen-lined ground squirrels illuminate retinal development
In most mammalian retinas, rods outnumber cones. But that ratio is flipped in ground squirrels, a quirk that helps Seth Blackshaw explore how retinal cells develop their identities.
How thirteen-lined ground squirrels illuminate retinal development
By
Sarah Thau
31 July 2026 | 5 min read
Neuroscientists weigh in on White House proposal for ‘moonshot infrastructure’ for connectomics
A report from the Trump administration calls for a “new golden age” of science, in which the federal government supports mission-driven collaborations to deliver high returns on research investments.
Neuroscientists weigh in on White House proposal for ‘moonshot infrastructure’ for connectomics
By
Sarah Thau
24 July 2026 | 4 min read
Neurons engage in risky, DNA-breaking business during migration
The cells later repair the damage, which occurs mostly in transcriptionally silent parts of the genome.
Neurons engage in risky, DNA-breaking business during migration
By
Sarah Thau
24 July 2026 | 4 min read
Explore more from The Transmitter
Finding the Rett syndrome gene and ways to fix it
Kevin Mitchell talks with Huda Zoghbi about her work identifying the MECP2 gene, its role in the brain and therapies to address its dysfunction.
Finding the Rett syndrome gene and ways to fix it
Kevin Mitchell talks with Huda Zoghbi about her work identifying the MECP2 gene, its role in the brain and therapies to address its dysfunction.
By
Kevin Mitchell
21 September 2026 | 4 min read
Measuring plastic in the brain: Improving, but incomplete
Meanwhile, researchers are publishing papers without “sufficient quality control,” says analytical chemist Dušan Materić.
Measuring plastic in the brain: Improving, but incomplete
Meanwhile, researchers are publishing papers without “sufficient quality control,” says analytical chemist Dušan Materić.
By
Amber Dance
18 September 2026 | 9 min read
Incredible shrinking grant deadlines at the BRAIN Initiative
“A month is crazy,” says one former recipient, referring to a new funding opportunity’s timeline.
Incredible shrinking grant deadlines at the BRAIN Initiative
“A month is crazy,” says one former recipient, referring to a new funding opportunity’s timeline.
By
Brendan Borrell
17 September 2026 | 4 min read