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About Ayala
Ayala’s interest in science started at a young age, with exposure to both popular-science and science-fiction. Her curiosity and enthusiasm for the natural sciences resulted in degrees in both chemical engineering and molecular biology, and a firm belief that the advancement of humanity depends on our ability to share, discuss and understand novel ideas. With great power comes great responsibility, and Ayala believes it is the responsibility of scientists to show the beauty and strength of science to the public. Still looking for the science-fiction novel hidden within her, she looks to science communication as a way to share new concepts, tools and discoveries with curious people from all walks of life.
Ayala is the editor of 67 Breaks:
The travel time of light inside the hydrogen molecule
A particle of light takes 247 zeptoseconds to cover the bond length of the hydrogen molecule. With a microscopic double-slit experiment, we have resolved this ultrashort timespan while conducting one of the fastest time measurements in atomic physics up to this day.
May 3, 2021 | 3 min readArtificial vision in the spotlight
Vision is considered among our most valuable senses. For many, it is taken for granted. Tackling the challenge facing visually impaired individuals may now be possible with new advances in research. Let’s shed some light on the field of artificial vision.
Apr 29, 2021 | 3 min readUnderstanding super bright mysteries of the universe
Observations of distant astronomical sources highlight what we know and do not know about the way our universe works. Among the mysteries of the cosmos are ultra-luminous X-ray sources, which are too bright to be explained by classical physics. New study now sheds light on their possible source.
Apr 27, 2021 | 4 min readHave the ancestors become too much to bear? Emergence of cremation 9000 years ago in the Near East
Recently discovered remains of cremation in an Early Neolithic village of the Jordan Valley date the emergence of this practice to 9000 years ago. A perfectly preserved pyre with burnt human bones allowed us to better understand this complex technical practice and to propose keys for interpreting this shift in the management of the dead.
Apr 23, 2021 | 4.5 min readHow wombats poop cubes
Scientists have solved the mystery of how wombats make cube-shaped poops - and the answer is not a square butt-hole! A new study reveals that muscle contractions in the wombat’s intestines mold these cubes.
Apr 21, 2021 | 3.5 min readOvercoming this is going to be difficult: Suicide risk, stigma, and chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome is a debilitating illness that affects 1.5 million Americans. Because it is linked with higher risks of suicide, scientists are seeking strategies that may prevent suicide in these patients. In this study, we learned that reducing the surrounding stigma may be one crucial strategy.
Apr 19, 2021 | 4 min read