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
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The illusion of AI consciousness: Lessons from human unconscious processing
Complex, goal-directed and even emotionally responsive behavior can unfold without awareness, providing a useful lens for interpreting artificial systems.
The illusion of AI consciousness: Lessons from human unconscious processing
Complex, goal-directed and even emotionally responsive behavior can unfold without awareness, providing a useful lens for interpreting artificial systems.
By
Vanessa Hadid, Karim Jerbi, John W. Krakauer
8 June 2026 | 0 min watch
‘Push-pull’ recipe for neural wiring used in multiple brain regions
A versatile pair of proteins steers neurons toward their targets and helps establish the brain’s sensory maps, new studies suggest.
‘Push-pull’ recipe for neural wiring used in multiple brain regions
A versatile pair of proteins steers neurons toward their targets and helps establish the brain’s sensory maps, new studies suggest.
By
Holly Barker
5 June 2026 | 5 min read
Reward-learning algorithm hardwired into dopamine circuit
The finding bolsters the canonical model of reward prediction error, which has come under scrutiny in recent years.
Reward-learning algorithm hardwired into dopamine circuit
The finding bolsters the canonical model of reward prediction error, which has come under scrutiny in recent years.
By
Natalia Mesa
5 June 2026 | 5 min read