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The Hebrew University of Jerusalem


How bacteria outsmart the immune system: Two-pronged strategy revealed

Researchers have discovered how a disease-causing bacterium uses a single protein to interfere with the body's defenses in multiple ways, offering a clearer picture of how infections take hold at the cellular level. This discovery highlights the importance of targeting specific interactions between bacterial proteins and human cells in...

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalAdvanced Science·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 30, 2026

VertINGreen unveiled turning indoor green walls into smart, living systems breathing life into buildings

Researchers have developed VertINGreen, a web-based platform that transforms vertical green walls into intelligent environmental systems using remote sensing technology and machine learning. This system enables precise planning and real-time monitoring of indoor plants, reducing maintenance costs and increasing the benefits of green wa...

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalIndoor Air·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 26, 2026

Massive-scale spatial multiplexing with 3D-printed photonic lanterns achieved by researchers

The Hebrew University team designed an adiabatic transition to convert multiple few-mode sources into a single multimode fiber, enabling efficient combining of dozens of small semiconductor lasers. The technology simplifies high-power laser systems and optical communications, preserving brightness and easing alignment constraints.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 10, 2026

Cannabis compounds show promise in fighting fatty liver disease

Researchers discovered that CBD and CBG can significantly reduce liver fat and improve metabolic health by creating a backup energy reserve and restoring cellular cleaning crews. These compounds also showed promising effects on treating metabolic diseases, including reducing body fat mass and improving insulin sensitivity.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalBritish Journal of Pharmacology·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 5, 2026

Protecting wildlife from genetic collapse with newly identified "early warning signals"

Researchers have identified detectable 'early warning signals' in genetic data that can alert conservationists to an approaching crisis before it becomes irreversible. The findings provide a new tool for protecting endangered species by monitoring genetic changes in populations and identifying early warning signs.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 5, 2026

How military deployment affects children: New study identifies parental burnout as critical

A new longitudinal study found that children's behavior problems are significantly linked to parental burnout, regardless of partner deployment status. Protecting children's resilience requires bolstering caregivers' emotional resources and external support to avoid burnout's negative impact on family well-being.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalPsychiatry Research·TypeSurvey·DateMar 2, 2026

Cannabis essential oils unlock how camphor repels mosquitoes - new study

Researchers have identified the specific smell receptor that causes mosquitoes to avoid borneol, a natural compound found in camphor tree oils. Activating this receptor triggers a neural pathway leading to avoidance behavior, offering potential strategies for designing more targeted and effective mosquito repellents.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 24, 2026

Stronger scents and healthier crops: unlocking plants’ hidden potential through precision gene editing

Researchers used a virus-based CRISPR system to edit the gatekeeper enzyme HMGR in petunias and lettuce, unlocking natural metabolic control for enhanced aromatic compounds and health-promoting antioxidants. The result was more vigorous growth, stronger floral fragrance, and increased nutritional value.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 19, 2026

Study finds 1.9 million year out-of-Africa migration wave leaves its mark in the Jordan Valley

A new study has determined that the Ubeidiya site in the Jordan Valley dates back at least 1.9 million years, revealing a significant shift in our understanding of early human history. The discovery suggests that ancient pioneers were established in the Levant at the dawn of humanity's global expansion, using diverse stone tools.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalQuaternary Science Reviews·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 19, 2026

Can ESG ratings be trusted? New study examines the fight against greenwashing

A new study finds that ESG rating providers play a crucial role in building and repairing trust in sustainable finance. By comparing EU and UK regulatory approaches, researchers show that 'enhanced self-regulation' combining public oversight with industry-led rules can support a credible market-led green transition.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalRegulation & Governance·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 8, 2026

Diabetes management in disadvantaged communities improves significantly with financial incentives, study finds

A new study found that providing financial vouchers to offset medication costs can significantly improve glycemic control among patients with uncontrolled Type 2 diabetes. After six months, participants receiving performance-based incentives saw a clinically substantial reduction in HbA1c levels.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 1, 2026

Rethinking where life could exist beyond earth

Astronomers may need to look beyond the traditional habitable zone for liquid water and potentially life-friendly conditions. A new study suggests that tidally locked worlds, even those orbiting closer to cool M- and K-dwarf stars than previously thought, could sustain liquid water on their night side.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 22, 2026

Artificially alive: How AI is bringing the dead back and what that means for the living

A new study reveals AI is being used to recreate deceased people's voices, faces, and personalities without consent, raising questions about ownership, exploitation, and power. The study identifies three dominant ways AI brings back the dead, including spectral labor, where digital remains are extracted and monetized.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalNew Media & Society·TypeCase study·DateJan 19, 2026

In patients’ homes, medical students learn what textbooks miss - new study

A new study found that year-long home visits with older adults helped first-year medical students develop stronger communication skills and challenge their age-related stereotypes. The program, which included gentle physical activity and open conversation, also promoted empathy and a patient-centered mindset among the students.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalMedical Education Online·TypeObservational study·DateJan 14, 2026

Paulson Family Foundation makes an additional $19 million donation to Hebrew University to fund a new building for electrical engineering. Together with its previous gift brings the total donation to $46 million

The Paulson Family Foundation has donated an additional $19 million to Hebrew University, bringing the total support to $46 million. The donation will be used for a state-of-the-art research and teaching complex supporting STEM disciplines critical to Israel's high-tech future.

Scientists trace facial gestures back to their source. before a smile appears, the brain has already decided

A new study published in Science uncovers how the brain prepares and produces facial gestures through a temporally organized hierarchy of neural codes. The research found that multiple brain regions work in parallel, each contributing different timing-based codes to generate coherent facial gestures.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 8, 2026

A CRISPR screen reveals many previously unrecognized genes required for brain development and a new neurodevelopmental disorder

A CRISPR screen identified 331 essential genes for brain cell generation, including PEDS1 linked to a severe developmental disorder. The study provides a new approach to identifying genes involved in neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and offers insights into gene inheritance patterns.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalNature Neuroscience·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJan 5, 2026

Why Some Bacteria Survive Antibiotics and How to Stop Them - New study reveals that bacteria can survive antibiotic treatment through two fundamentally different “shutdown modes”

Researchers identify two archetypes of growth arrest that lead to persistence: regulated and disrupted states. The former provides protection from antibiotics, while the latter is marked by vulnerabilities, particularly impaired cell membrane stability. This distinction has significant implications for developing targeted therapies.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 2, 2026