Sarah Thau is joining The Transmitter as a 2026 AAAS Mass Media Fellow. 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
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
A consensus on the definition of profound autism, and more
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 5 July.
A consensus on the definition of profound autism, and more
By
Sarah Thau
7 July 2026 | 2 min read
Fructose silences hunger-driving neurons less than glucose does
Two simple sugars show the complexities of gut-brain communication.
Fructose silences hunger-driving neurons less than glucose does
By
Sarah Thau
30 June 2026 | 3 min read
Explore more from The Transmitter
Three models, three routes to altered auditory processing, and more
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 10 August.
Three models, three routes to altered auditory processing, and more
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 10 August.
By
Jill Adams
11 August 2026 | 2 min read
Optimized two-photon microscopy enables voltage imaging at multiple depths
The tool could reveal how information flows within and between cortical layers during neural processing.
Optimized two-photon microscopy enables voltage imaging at multiple depths
The tool could reveal how information flows within and between cortical layers during neural processing.
By
Simon Makin
11 August 2026 | 4 min read
O que significa ‘lar’ para Martín Giurfa
O pesquisador especializado em cognição de insetos já trabalhou em vários continentes, mas a Argentina nunca está longe de seus pensamentos.
O que significa ‘lar’ para Martín Giurfa
O pesquisador especializado em cognição de insetos já trabalhou em vários continentes, mas a Argentina nunca está longe de seus pensamentos.
By
Gina Jiménez
10 August 2026 | 15 min read