Sarah Wells

Sarah is a Boston-based writer covering science and technology. She's interested in the philosophical questions of science and technology and has been known to wax poetic about dead mathematicians and the ennui of light particles from time to time.
back in time
Dead Sea Scrolls: A.I. reveals the hidden author of a crucial Bible text
Sarah Wells
With machine learning, scientists are now peering back in time.
more mowing
One surprising way robot lawnmowers will help the Earth
Sarah Wells
Your Roomba is getting an upgrade.
Science
Scientists debunk a long-held theory about oysters, chocolate, honey, and Spanish fly
Sarah Wells
Can aphrodisiac foods really stimulate your sex life? The answer is chemically complicated. "Don't expect a magic bullet," says Bryan Le, Ph.D.
best of both
Part-human, part-monkey: welcome science's newest chimera embryos
Sarah Wells
Don’t worry, there are not human-monkey babies — yet.
spinning webs
A revolution in 3D printing could help scientists speak to spiders
Sarah Wells
Researchers from MIT have designed a 3D model that helps them listen to the music of spiders, and maybe even speak with them.
uncanny
Creepy robot skin answers 3 questions about the future
Sarah Wells
The questions you’ve always wanted to ask.
Check, Please
Best pasta shape? Geometry debunks a popular food myth
Sarah Wells
Is all pasta created equal? Not according to a geometric analysis of pasta shapes.
shine a light
Engineers are on the brink of breaking a massive encryption barrier
Sarah Wells
The ultimate key is literally at your fingertips.
swipe right
Why A.I. knows who you find attractive better than you do
Sarah Wells
Researchers have designed a brain-computer interface that can generate uniquely attractive images based on your brainwaves.
drink up
One change to your coffee routine could save a beloved animal, scientists say
Sarah Wells
Time to put your conservation where your mouth is — literally.
pump the breaks
Frozen antimatter study to 'alter our understanding' of the universe
Sarah Wells
Researchers have for the first time slowed down an antimatter atom using lasers to more precisely study this physical phenomena.
new life
Scientists grow human muscles in pig embryos for the first time
Sarah Wells
Researchers have demonstrated how pig embryos could be used to grow human muscle tissue that can be used to treat graft-resistant injuries.
ancient history
5 ancient secrets revealed by modern technology
Sarah Wells
Decades or even centuries after their discovery, these arcane discoveries are finally being uncovered.
wibbly wobbly
Physicists are on the brink of redefining time
Sarah Wells
Time is a construct — and it’s made of atoms.
trojan horse
Tiny robots can now smuggle drugs into brain tumors
Sarah Wells
The future of cancer treatment may be robot-delivered.
Eat up
Brood X: Cicada experts reveal the truth about eating bugs
Sarah Wells
Periodical cicada Brood X will be ascending upon us this summer and they might just be the tastiest summer treat.
awe and dread
Virtual reality could solve a century-spanning philosophical mystery
Sarah Wells
A team of psychologists are using VR to investigate the sublime and understand how different mediums might affect it.
shades of brown
Human waste could solve aviation's biggest problem
Sarah Wells
Researchers have devised a way to transform human waste into green biofuel by manipulating its chemical composition.
tiny boy
Tiniest gravitational field ever created may solve a mystery Einstein couldn't
Sarah Wells
Researchers are closer than ever to a grand unifying theory.
Relief
CRISPR could be the end of opioid abuse — study
Sarah Wells
After success in mice, CRISPR could be used to treat chronic pain in the future.