A new study found that consuming produce grown in treated wastewater-irrigated soil leads to higher levels of carbamazepine excretion. The researchers discovered that the production and consumption of such veggies pose a potential risk for consumers, despite the low quantities involved.
A nationwide study of 2.3 million Israeli adolescents found an association between elevated BMI in late adolescence and subsequent cardiovascular mortality in midlife. Even BMI considered 'normal' during adolescence was associated with a graded increase in cardiovascular and all-cause mortality.
A new species of extinct rodent, Sayimys negevensis, has been discovered in Israel's Negev desert, providing insights into the early dispersal route of mammals from Asia to Africa. The discovery bridges the gap between primitive ctenodactylines and gundis, highlighting Israel's unique paleogeographic position.
New research reveals honey bee colonies adapt their diet to counter nutritional deficiencies, prioritizing diets that complement specific amino acid deficiencies. This ability allows bees to maintain a balanced nutrition level when alternative floral resources are scarce.
Researchers developed a new Liver-on-Chip device with glucose and lactate micro-sensors to track metabolic function in real-time, enabling detection of chemical toxicity before cellular damage. The technology has the potential to redefine studies on neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and drug discovery.
Archaeologists discovered a 11,000-year-old quarry in central Israel that demonstrates the significant impact of humans on the landscape during the transition to farming. The site, dated to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic A culture, shows evidence of large-scale quarrying activities for flint and limestone tool manufacturing.
Researchers at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem have successfully generated a new type of embryonic stem cell carrying a single copy of the human genome. These haploid stem cells are pluripotent and retain a single set of chromosomes, offering a powerful tool for genetic analysis and potential therapies for diseases.
A new method detects multiple diseases via methylation patterns of circulating DNA from dying cells, identifying cell death in specific tissues and offering a minimally-invasive window for monitoring and diagnosis. The approach has vast possibilities for diagnostic medicine and can be adapted to identify cfDNA derived from any cell type.
Researchers use satellite data to quantify cloud base updraft speeds and aerosol particles' ability to create cloud droplets, providing critical information for understanding climate change. The study aims to reduce the uncertainty around global warming estimates by 1.5 to 4.5 degrees by the end of the 21st century.
Researchers found that a cell aging program increases insulin secretion in human and mouse pancreatic beta cells, improving their function. This discovery suggests that cellular aging can bring unexpected benefits to the production of insulin, potentially leading to new insights and treatments for diabetes.
Researchers at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem have developed a nanotechnology-based delivery system that activates the body's natural defense against free radicals. This system could control various skin pathologies and disorders by inducing antioxidant enzymes and maintaining skin cell redox balance.
Researchers discovered that E. coli uses bio-films to protect itself from the bacterial predator Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus, allowing it to survive in fragmented environments. This finding could lead to the development of alternative antibiotics that target specific harmful bacteria while leaving benign ones untouched.
Excavations in the Jordan Valley revealed a prehistoric village with cultural characteristics typical of both the Old Stone Age and the New Stone Age. The site shows evidence of artistic tradition, size, and investment in architecture more typical of early agricultural communities.
Scientists create photo-bioelectrochemical cells that harness natural photosynthesis to generate electrical power from sunlight. The system uses glucose as a fuel and provides a new method for photonically driving biocatalytic fuel cells.
Researchers develop algorithm to quantify brain map continuity, finding pathological processing reflected by discontinuity rather than signal reduction. This discovery may serve as biomarker for neurological pathologies and enable early detection of Alzheimer's disease.
A team from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem suggests that rare mergers of binary neutron stars are the origin of naturally occurring radioactive plutonium-244. This theory resolves the Galactic radioactive plutonium puzzle by explaining why only a small amount of plutonium has reached Earth in recent 100 million years.
A new technique has enabled the rapid expansion of functional human liver cells in the lab, opening up new avenues for studying drug toxicity, liver disease, and more. The method, known as the 'upcyte' process, allows for the generation of liver cells from multiple donors with similar characteristics to primary human hepatocytes.
Researchers discover a link between colorectal cancer and melanoma treatment NT157, targeting both tumor cells and microenvironment to suppress cancer growth. The compound's dual mechanism of action shows promise in treating colon cancer with minimal damage to non-cancer cells.
Researchers found that ancient venomous groups evolve slowly under purifying selection, while recent lineages diversify rapidly under positive selection. This reveals a new theory of venom evolution, proposing a 'two-speed' mode where toxins expand and then are preserved through purifying selection.
Researchers identified a novel pathway in the normal development and maintenance of the ovary, discovering a mutation in the Nucleoporin 107 gene linked to ovarian dysgenesis. This finding has significant implications for diagnosing infertility and lack of puberty in women.
Researchers propose that Alzheimer's disease is a collection of diseases stemming from similar molecular mechanisms. They identified a key protein, cyclophilin B, responsible for its manifestation in distinct neurodegenerative disorders. This study aims to develop novel therapies tailored to individual disease subtypes.
Researchers from Hebrew University of Jerusalem suggest that microglia cells may be a key to causing depression, leading to potential new treatments. The study proposes a personalized medical approach using drugs that restore normal microglia function to diagnose and treat depression.
Researchers have successfully converted skin cells into stable and fully functional placenta-generating cells, overcoming two major bottlenecks in regenerative medicine. This breakthrough resolves ethical and immune rejection issues, offering new hope for women with recurrent miscarriage and placental dysfunction diseases.
A new study using bionic liver micro-organs explains the off-target toxicity of acetaminophen, a breakthrough that could transform drug development. The device detected small changes in cellular respiration, revealing a faster and lower-dose mechanism than previously thought.
Researchers have successfully created functional liver cells from human embryonic and genetic engineered stem cells. The new method enables unlimited production of liver cells with high accuracy, revolutionizing pharmaceutical drug discovery and potentially improving treatment outcomes.
A team of researchers has found a way to measure the aging process in young adults, revealing that some people are aging three times faster than their peers. The study used biomarkers such as kidney function, liver health, and telomere length to determine biological age and pace of aging.
Researchers have developed a new tool that uses phylogenetic profiling to identify genes associated with genetic diseases and cancer. This approach can be used to analyze genes within the same network as known disease-related genes, such as BRCA1, and predict their biological functions.
Leading researchers from Canada and Israel are working together to uncover the molecular landscape of pancreatic cancer and develop new biomarkers for detection and diagnostics. The collaboration aims to improve patient outcomes by discovering targeted therapies.
The Azrieli Foundation donated $10 million to fund groundbreaking stem cell and genetic research at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's newly inaugurated center. Researchers will focus on developing therapies for Down syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, and Fragile X syndrome, among other conditions.
The Edmond and Lily Safra Philanthropic Foundation has donated $30 million to the Hebrew University's Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, bringing the total funding to $50 million. The center will continue to grow and recruit top researchers to advance brain research and development.
Scientists have developed a 'Neuronal Positioning System' that maps the axonal wiring of individual neurons, revealing organizational principles of neuronal networks. This new approach enables researchers to study how specific neurons are wired to other types and regions, providing insights into brain function and development.
Researchers found that the brain's visual cortex retains fundamental topographical and functional connectivity organizational principles, including retinotopic mapping, in people born blind. The study dispels the notion that blindness impairs brain development.
Researchers found that young mice don't possess cellular machinery for regeneration after weaning, leading to reduced insulin secretion and replication of beta cells. A new developmental step in beta cell maturation is triggered by dietary change from high-fat milk to chow.
Researchers at Hebrew University of Jerusalem discover malaria parasite uses long noncoding RNA to switch genes and evade human immune system. They develop novel method to suppress virulence genes, breaking code of its immune evasion.
Researchers identified a bacteriophage from Jerusalem sewage that can infect and eliminate Enterococcus faecalis biofilms, a common cause of persistent root canal infections. This phage therapy approach may offer a new solution for combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
A 55,000-year-old partial skull discovered in Israel provides new insights into the migration of modern humans out of Africa. The fossil, found at Manot Cave, suggests that the Manot people may be closely related to the first modern humans that colonized Europe.
New research reveals that unexpected brain connectivity can lead to fast brain specialization, allowing humans to adapt to rapid technological and cultural innovations. Blind individuals using sensory substitution devices activate specialized brain areas for tasks such as reading and recognizing numerical symbols.
Researchers found that stars beyond our solar system produce gold and uranium less frequently than expected, challenging current theories. The study analyzed deep-sea core samples, revealing a significant discrepancy in the abundance of plutonium isotope Pu-244.
Research shows that different neutrophil subtypes exist, with some anti-tumor properties while others promote tumor progression. The study highlights the importance of targeting specific neutrophil populations to develop effective new therapies for cancer.
A new study found that long-term exposure to terrorism threat increases resting heart rates and mortality risk in Israelis. The study, conducted on 17,300 healthy subjects, reveals a link between fear of terror and elevated heart rates.
Researchers at Hebrew University developed a new light-sensitive film that can stimulate neurons in response to light without using wires or external power sources. This innovative technology has the potential to form the basis of a prosthetic retina for people with retinal damage or degeneration.
A recent study has sequenced the centipede genome, providing insight into how life developed on Earth. The research found that centipedes adapted to dry air by expanding gene families not present in insects.
Researchers developed new way to measure how CO2 acidifies oceans, affecting marine ecosystems. A 5,000 km long survey revealed calcification rates of coral reefs and open sea plankton in the Red Sea, providing crucial baseline conditions for tracking environmental changes.
Scientists have successfully demonstrated the flow of electrical current through long DNA molecules, paving the way for the development of DNA-based programmable circuits. The breakthrough could lead to more sophisticated, cheaper and simpler computer circuits.
A recent study found that ocean acidification caused a significant decrease in calcification rates of the Great Barrier Reef, threatening its ecosystem. The research suggests that coral reefs are now producing less dense and fragile skeletons, making them more susceptible to erosion.
Researchers at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem have discovered how circular RNAs are produced, finding they compete with normal RNAs for expression. The study suggests a link between circRNAs and degenerative diseases like muscular dystrophy and potentially brain disorders.
Researchers at Hebrew University develop a new cocktail of genes to coax adult cells into pluripotent stem cells, producing high-quality results. The new approach improves upon existing methods by reducing genetic abnormalities and increasing the proportion of successful cell reprogramming.
Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem used laser scans and atomic force microscopes to study the Western Wall's erosion. They found that fine-grained limestone erodes up to 100 times faster than coarse-grained limestone, potentially weakening the structure.
A new paradigm for understanding friction has been developed, showing that how things break and slide are intimately intertwined. This breakthrough study provides a fundamental description of the mechanics driving earthquakes.
Scientists have discovered that bacteria can develop a biological timer to survive under antibiotic exposure, adapting their dormant period to match the treatment duration. This breakthrough has significant implications for slowing the evolution of antibiotic resistance.