A new study found that insurance settlements increased by 12-17% after anonymity guarantees were introduced in Israel's legal reform. This suggests that individuals were willing to sacrifice thousands of dollars to protect their privacy. The study provides rare real-world evidence of privacy's substantial economic value.
A new paper argues that human creativity's value lies in the transformative experiences and personal development it requires, shifting the focus from the finished product to the experiences that shape artists and cultures. The research highlights how AI can enrich human experiences and encourage curiosity, exploration, and new perspect...
A new study found that mental health after trauma follows distinct patterns, predicting post-traumatic stress symptoms beyond distress levels. Early positive emotions and viewing the world as safe were associated with better outcomes, while empathy was linked to greater distress.
ViVac Pharma, an early-stage biotech company, develops RNA-based immunotherapies to reprogram the immune system to eradicate cancer. The company's platform mimics the immune-stimulating response of a natural viral infection, triggering a comprehensive attack to destroy cancer cells.
A six-week home-based brain stimulation program combined with a video game showed promise in reducing depressive symptoms, but the experimental combination did not lead to greater improvement than a control condition. Both groups showed a marked reduction in depressive symptoms, raising questions about what drives symptom improvement i...
A new study published in Hernia examined 39 robotic hernia repairs, with most patients returning home after one day and no hernias recurring during follow-up. Robotic technology enables greater precision and flexibility, making complex operations less invasive and more effective.
A yearlong study found that early depression and anxiety predicted later economic hardship, while financial strain went on to predict worsening depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Economic hardship was consistently associated with a higher likelihood of clinically significant depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms.
A new study suggests that therapeutic food made from locally available crops like chickpeas, sorghum, and soybeans could help expand access to lifesaving nutrition care. The plant-based formulation supported better recovery from malnutrition than commercial products, with higher protein content and quality.
Jewish Israelis report strengthened sense of Israeli identity, while many see Israel as more Middle Eastern than European. Israelis overwhelmingly view Israel as safer for Jews than Europe, with Germany and Hungary as closest friends in Europe.
A new study found that eating with a companion reduces blood glucose spikes and improves glucose recovery, suggesting that human physiology is inherently social. The researchers call this principle Social Physiology, which states that the human body regulates itself more efficiently in the presence of social partners.
Hebrew University leads Israel in the number of academic subjects ranked among the world's top 50, according to the 2026 Shanghai Ranking. The university placed 17th worldwide in Communication, 24th in Mathematics, 36th in Law, and 44th in Public Administration, with seven subjects ranked among the top 100.
Researchers identify brain circuit that supports flexible behavior, but is hijacked by cocaine to drive repetitive actions. Activating or suppressing opposing neural pathways can either promote rigid behavior or interrupt cocaine-driven repetitive behavior.
A new fund will invest in deep-tech ventures, technologies from the Hebrew University, and startups founded by alumni. The fund aims to raise $50 million and bridge the gap between promising scientific discoveries and the capital needed to turn them into successful companies.
Researchers discovered how E. coli bacteria can quickly adapt to attach to human cells when they lose one of their main attachment mechanisms, and found that this process can lead to stronger attachment and more effective infection. The findings suggest a possible target for future treatments that could prevent bacterial attachment and...
Researchers created BioPykrete, a material that's 10 times stronger than ordinary ice and can absorb 70 times more energy before breaking. The cellulose network and protein connections slow down crack propagation, preventing it from spreading quickly.
A new study estimates that 45%–55% of governments misreported COVID mortality, with underreporting common than overreporting. Countries with stronger institutional checks and balances show less underreporting, emphasizing the importance of verification in protecting the reliability of official information.
Researchers identified three unconventional quantum materials that can amplify tiny dark matter signals, outperforming existing detectors. These materials, including titanium diselenide, could detect light dark matter particles with unprecedented sensitivity, potentially unlocking a new frontier in dark matter research.
A new study found that cosmic radiation levels at commercial flight altitudes rise as solar activity falls, with levels potentially increasing by 40-60% during solar minimum conditions. The researchers also found a clear vertical pattern in radiation levels, with a peak around 17-20 km above Earth.
A new study reveals that catastrophic fractures begin with tiny two-dimensional patches that creep slowly before rapidly breaking. The study challenges classical fracture theory, which suggests that cracks must reach a critical size before failing.
Scientists found that applying calcium under salt-stress conditions helps seeds maintain critical balance between sodium and potassium. A natural compound, sanguinarine, inhibits a key protein and boosts germination rates, but does not protect young plants after they've sprouted.
A new study proposes that wildfires and erosion in the southern Levant may have inspired Neolithic communities to discover pottery-making. The study suggests that observing naturally baked clay during intense fires led to the development of ceramics.
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...