Researchers suggest that biological memory is connected to emotion and thought, and that AI may lack the biological infrastructure to replicate human-like consciousness. The study proposes a biochemical process connecting brain cells and chemistry to memory, potentially offering a new route to understanding mental processes.
Researchers developed a technique to control internal structure of semiconductor materials using ultra-fast flashes of light, producing materials with up to 50 times more electrical current from light. The method works on transparent conducting glass, preserving useful properties that conventional heating methods cannot easily achieve.
A new study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem found that tomato plants can optimize water use during a specific 'golden hour' when sunlight is strong but heat and dry air are minimal. This discovery could give plant breeders a powerful tool to develop crops that can thrive in increasingly unpredictable climate conditions.
A study by Hebrew University researchers found that iron and bromine may contribute to the development of feline corneal sequestra, a condition causing chronic eye discomfort. The findings suggest biochemical processes involving inflammation and oxidative stress may play a role in the disease's progression.
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem has been ranked 8th in the world by the Shanghai World University Rankings 2026. The university's academic excellence and international standing have been recognized, with researchers producing outstanding scholarship and competing at a high global level.
A systematic review of 68 studies finds varied psychological responses to collective trauma, with exposure intensity and social circumstances playing key roles. Social connection also offers protective benefits.
Researchers have identified a genetic mechanism that coordinates flower development and fruit formation in tomato plants, enabling them to produce fruit more reliably during challenging growing conditions. The discovery could lead to the development of seedless tomatoes with improved yield and quality.
A new study found that folic acid works with the enzyme ALDH1L1 to produce retinoic acid, a critical developmental signal for the nervous system. Folic acid's protective effect is lost when ALDH1L1 is disrupted, supporting its role in preventing neural tube defects.
Researchers found that meaning in life and healthy digital habits are strong predictors of better mental health outcomes. These factors can be strengthened through interventions, regardless of religious affiliation.
Researchers developed a novel method to probe how mirror-image materials structure acts like a microscopic filter, influencing electron separation and movement. The approach allows for faster testing of promising materials for spintronics and optoelectronics technologies.
A new study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem examines Israel's philanthropic food-aid network, highlighting gaps in data and disparities in distribution. The researchers found significant limitations in evaluating the effectiveness, efficiency, and equity of charitable aid systems.
A new study found that certain carp species, such as goldfish and silver carp, are resistant to the devastating Koi herpesvirus (CyHV-3) and do not easily transmit it to common carp. This discovery offers a hopeful perspective on managing the disease in fish farms and freshwater ecosystems.
Prof. Haim Sompolinsky receives the 2026 Dirac Medal for pioneering contributions to equilibrium statistical mechanics and non-equilibrium statistical mechanics. His work helps establish the field of theoretical neuroscience, elucidating how collective activity supports memory, computation, and learning.
A new study challenges long-held assumptions about autism by showing that autistic people can understand others' emotions just as well as non-autistic people. Researchers found that autistic participants were similarly accurate at tracking emotional experiences and may have been slightly more accurate when understanding other autistic ...
Researchers found that polyethylene microplastics modify as they age in soil, but these changes have little effect on how they interact with various organic contaminants. The study suggests the soil itself, not the plastic, remains the main factor influencing the environmental fate of these chemicals.
A new study reveals that the brain plays a crucial role in protecting fertility during heat stress by sending signals to reproductive cells. Researchers discovered an unexpected communication system between the brain and germline cells, showing how animals adjust reproduction when conditions become unfavorable.
A new study found that cells of the same chronological age can follow dramatically different biological aging paths. Tissues become a mosaic of biologically younger and older cells, with some individual cells aging much faster than others.
Researchers at Hebrew University of Jerusalem identify previously unknown law of geometry that explains why growing surfaces suddenly develop complex patterns. The discovery could reshape understanding of natural structures and guide design of shape-changing materials.
A €15 million EU-funded trial will investigate phage therapy as an alternative to antibiotics for recurrent urinary tract infections. Researchers from 13 countries, including Hebrew University and Hadassah Medical Center, will evaluate personalized bacteriophage therapy to treat antibiotic-resistant E. coli infections.
A new study reveals that lignin can be transformed into a bioactive material that promotes the formation of bone-like minerals while supporting the growth of bone-forming cells. The material also degrades gradually under physiological conditions, making it suitable for scaffolds intended to be replaced by newly formed bone during healing.
A new study of an Israeli hospital's response to the October 7 attacks reveals critical gaps in communication, staffing, logistics, and casualty distribution. The findings offer practical lessons that could help hospitals worldwide prepare for prolonged armed conflicts and other large-scale emergencies.
Researchers found that fatty acids and hydroxy acids can combine to create stronger and more stable structures than either molecule can form alone. This cooperative effect suggests that simple molecules may have been helping each other create more organized chemical systems, which could eventually lead to the emergence of life.
Researchers have discovered that plant hormone auxin regulates organ formation by oppositely affecting gibberellin activity, creating a two-step communication system between the two hormones. This mechanism allows plants to carefully alternate between growth and expansion, enabling them to build complex organs with remarkable precision.
A new study reveals that cooperation does not require close family ties or reputation, but rather opponent-specific responses, leading to the emergence of cooperative behavior. This finding challenges conventional evolutionary theory and has implications for the design of more collaborative artificial intelligence systems.
Researchers have discovered a hidden network of specialized mesenchymal support cells in the intestine that work together to maintain its inner lining. The study found four distinct populations of cells with unique genetic programs, each occupying specific locations and influencing stem cell activity and immune responses.
A new study found that drought timing is critical for plant survival, as it alters flowering schedules and reduces competition. Climate change may disrupt this delicate balance, highlighting the importance of considering both rainfall amount and timing.
Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have found that plants can successfully manufacture β-casein, one of the major proteins in cow's milk. The protein accumulated in an unexpected location inside plant cells, revealing a previously unknown pathway that could help improve animal protein production in crops.
Researchers discovered that niobium diselenide and TaS₂ exhibit two strongly interacting superconducting states, resolving a long-standing mystery about their behavior. This finding provides new insight into superconductivity and could aid in designing better superconducting materials for future technologies.
A new study reveals that temperature changes in the Indian Ocean can significantly influence winter weather thousands of kilometers away in the Eastern Mediterranean, offering new opportunities to predict damaging dry spells months before they occur. Positive phases of the Indian Ocean Dipole are linked to large-scale shifts in atmosph...
A new study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem found that low body esteem, problematic social media use, and other factors are linked to addictive-like behavior in women who undergo repeated cosmetic treatments. Nearly 20% of surveyed women met the threshold for moderate-to-severe risk of addictive cosmetic procedure use.
Researchers identify a promising new strategy to overcome drug resistance in deadly brain cancer by blocking nitrosative stress. Combining BA-101 with temozolomide slows tumor growth, reduces cancer's ability to spread, and increases cancer cell death.
A new study finds that human cortical neurons have remarkable computational capabilities, surpassing those of other mammals. The researchers developed a new method to measure the complexity of individual neurons, revealing their sophisticated computing power.
A new study reveals that brief warm temperatures disrupt the internal bacterial ecosystem of dwarf spiders, leading to a sudden comeback of male offspring. The research found that thermal stress triggers a transgenerational shift in microbial dynamics, with a rival bacterium blocking the feminizing bacteria and allowing males to thrive.
A new study reveals children of Holocaust survivors born after WWII have a higher risk of schizophrenia, especially if their mother was over 5 years old when persecutions began. The research highlights the intergenerational transmission of trauma and its impact on mental health.
Prof. Yehu Moran's election to EMBO recognizes his groundbreaking research on the evolution of biological defense systems, advancing our understanding of life and exemplifying the university's scientific excellence.
Prof. Orly Lewis is developing a flexible publishing platform for interactive knowledge environments, while Prof. Nir Friedman is creating an epigenomic liquid biopsy for early detection and monitoring of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis.
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Edut 710 have partnered to create a groundbreaking AI-powered living archive, featuring nearly 2,000 survivor, witness, and first responder testimonies. The archive will enable users to search, translate, and explore the accounts through natural language, preserving authenticity and integrity.
A global study reveals that culture influences how people try to regulate the emotions of others, with individualistic cultures prioritizing comforting and expressing care, while collectivistic cultures often view unpleasant emotions as valuable. This finding highlights the importance of cultural context in emotional support.
A new study discovered a previously unknown antiviral defense mechanism in sea anemones, revealing that animals may have evolved more than one way to fight viral infections. The findings suggest that fundamentally different antiviral strategies have emerged across the animal kingdom.
A comprehensive review examines global trends in antimicrobial resistance in animal eye infections, warning that multidrug-resistant bacteria are becoming more common. The authors call for earlier diagnostic testing, targeted antibiotic use, and stronger infection-control measures to preserve treatment options.
The team proposes a novel model that suggests RNA editing defects may initiate autoimmune responses in type 1 diabetes. Their research could reveal new mechanisms underlying the disease and lead to prevention and treatment breakthroughs.
A new study reanalyzes the Gaza Mortality Survey, identifying interviewer-level anomalies and inconsistencies with external demographic data. This raises concerns about the survey's representativeness and validity of its estimates of conflict-related deaths in Gaza.
Researchers at Hebrew University of Jerusalem discovered a surprising bias in non-conscious processing: negative spoken words are less likely to reach conscious awareness than neutral ones. This challenges traditional assumptions about how emotional information gains access to conscious awareness.
A new study reveals that climate models reproduce extreme heat but struggle to capture the gradual atmospheric buildup leading up to it. The researchers propose a process-based framework for evaluating climate models to improve prediction capabilities and enhance preparedness for extreme heat events.
A new study reveals that honeybees can evaluate the reliability of their communication and adjust their dance vigor accordingly. Bees with verified, honest information increase their recruitment effort over time when advertising a new location, while unverified bees do not.
A new study suggests that migratory predators can act as evolutionary messengers, carrying avoidance behaviors across continents and linking the fates of species separated by thousands of kilometers. This challenges a longstanding assumption in mimicry theory, opening up a hidden world of long-distance evolutionary relationships.
A new study found evidence of repeated fire use at Wonderwerk Cave between 1.07 and 1.79 million years ago, revealing that early humans brought naturally occurring fire into the cave and maintained it. The findings provide new insights into how our ancestors first began to harness fire.
A new study reveals that plants actively redirect sugars to damaged tissues, concentrating glucose around the injury site. This process fuels the regeneration process and helps plants recover from physical damage or environmental stress.
A new study found that plants can reveal recent PFAS contamination linked to airborne deposition, suggesting direct exposure from the atmosphere rather than uptake through roots alone. The research suggests that vegetation can serve as a valuable tool for tracking emerging environmental contaminants and complement traditional soil-base...
A study using Galen's ancient texts highlights the inability of digital simulations and virtual reality to transmit the physical intuition needed for clinical practice. Researchers recreated a dissection to demonstrate that written instructions and digital tools cannot replace hands-on experience.