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Weizmann Institute of Science


The DNA repair crew has favorites

Scientists have discovered how certain DNA repair enzymes preferentially target specific genetic sequences, leading to the accumulation of mutations in vulnerable regions. This understanding has implications for cancer development and the evolutionary process.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 13, 2026

One plant, three kingdoms, five trips

Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science have successfully engineered a model plant to produce five psychedelic substances, including DMT and psilocybin, by identifying key genes and enzymes responsible for their production. The plant's ability to simultaneously produce multiple psychedelics has implications for treating mental...

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalScience Advances·DateJul 7, 2026

Pandemic in fast forward

Researchers successfully reconstructed the evolution of the virus-human interaction over the course of an entire pandemic. They identified that strong selection pressure leads to rapid emergence of highly contagious variants, similar to Omicron. This study offers hopes that scientists may predict how viruses evolve in the future.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 14, 2026

Before the aliens, the amino acids

A team of researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science has developed a new approach to detecting alien biology, leveraging statistical patterns in molecular diversity. By analyzing groups of molecules rather than individual ones, the method can identify biological signatures even in samples with limited information.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalNature Astronomy·DateJun 14, 2026

Facing danger with maturity

Researchers discovered that stem cells can mature into potent antimicrobial cells when infected with bacteria, sacrificing their own lifespan to prevent prolonged infection and promote tissue repair. This newfound mechanism may hold potential for understanding inflammatory diseases like Crohn's disease.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalNature Immunology·DateMay 18, 2026

From cancer to Alzheimer’s: Engineered immune cells reduce plaques in the brain

Researchers at Weizmann Institute and Washington University School of Medicine developed a CAR-T therapy that significantly reduced amyloid deposits and inflammation in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. The therapy holds promise for treating neurodegenerative disorders, including ALS and Parkinson's disease.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 30, 2026

How yeast find the perfect match

A mass mating event among yeast strains revealed specific preferences for partner selection. The study showed that yeast tend to choose partners that produce fitter offspring, with successful pairs exhibiting reduced genetic distance. This suggests an ancient and fundamental mechanism for mate choice in sexual reproduction.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalCell Reports·DateApr 30, 2026

Phage’s deep pockets

Scientists identify Lockin, Sequestin, and Acb5 protein families in phages, revealing how viruses silence bacterial immune systems. These findings shed light on the importance of communication disruption in the billion-year-long war between viruses and bacteria.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalScience·DateApr 30, 2026

Giant planet’s slimmer profile

Jupiter is found to be about 8 km less wide at the equator and 24 km flatter at the poles, requiring an updated understanding of the giant planet's size and shape. This research has broader implications for studying gas planets in general and provides new insights into Jupiter's powerful winds and interior structure.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalNature Astronomy·DateApr 30, 2026

Carbon-14 dating unlocks ancient Jerusalem’s water secret: monumental Siloam Dam was built in 800 BCE to face a climate crisis

A 2,800-year-old study using Carbon-14 dating reveals that the Siloam Pool and Dam were constructed as part of a comprehensive water management system for ancient Jerusalem. The findings point to early urban planning and impressive engineering skills in addressing climate change.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 28, 2025

Meet your digital twin

Researchers created a digital twin to detect disease risk, initiate preventive treatment, and simulate effective treatments. The model uses extensive human data from the Human Phenotype Project to identify deviations from expected physiological changes in 17 body systems.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalNature Medicine·DateJul 15, 2025

The dark side of time

Researchers propose a novel method for detecting dark matter using thorium-229 nucleus properties, with potential to detect forces 10 trillion times weaker than gravity. The new approach aims to identify minute deviations in the absorption spectrum of thorium-229 to reveal dark matter's influence.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalPhysical Review X·DateJul 14, 2025

Sensing fat

Researchers at Weizmann Institute of Science discovered that nerve cells can sense mechanical forces in fat tissue, regulating brown fat activity and influencing energy balance. Mice lacking this sensing ability were resistant to obesity and metabolic conditions.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalCell Metabolism·DateJun 3, 2025

MRI gets a nano-sized upgrade

Weizmann Institute researchers developed a nano-MRI device with a resolution of one nanometer, allowing for the imaging of individual molecules. This technology paves the way for high-resolution molecular imaging in materials and pharmaceutical industries.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalCommunications Physics·DateMay 22, 2025

Whisker whisperers

Research reveals that mouse whiskers can 'hear' the world by generating sounds that are encoded in the auditory cortex. The study shows that mice use these sounds to recognize objects, even when touch sensation is abolished.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalCurrent Biology·DateMay 19, 2025

Slimming with Mitch

Researchers found that silencing Mitch, a key regulator of mitochondrial fusion, increases cellular respiration and burns more fats and carbohydrates. In human cells, deleting Mitch leads to increased muscular endurance and a decrease in fat accumulation.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalThe EMBO Journal·DateMay 8, 2025

Wake-up call for dormant cancer

Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science discovered that dormant breast cancer cells accumulate DNA mutations and experience widespread cellular damage, leading to dormancy. Increasing OVOL protein expression can halt cancer cell lifecycle and induce dormancy, but also enables them to reawaken more aggressively.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalScience Signaling·DateApr 24, 2025

Beyond words

Researchers analyzed massive audio recordings to create a dictionary of short melodies in English-language prosody, assigning functions and meanings. They discovered hundreds of basic patterns with linguistic functions, including conveying attitudes such as curiosity or surprise, and identified syntactic rules governing their order.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 22, 2025

Multiple proteins viewed as never before

The CombPlex technology developed at Weizmann Institute allows for the simultaneous imaging and quantification of nearly two dozen proteins within individual cells. This breakthrough enables researchers to measure lots of proteins at the same time, crucial for understanding tissue function and disease processes.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateApr 7, 2025

Getting cancer to unmask itself

Researchers from Prof. Yardena Samuels's lab developed a new approach to cancer treatment by manipulating cancer cells to produce dozens of suspicious proteins, leading to a powerful immune response that destroys human cancer cells and slows tumor growth in mouse models.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalCancer Cell·DateMar 31, 2025

Matter at the crossroads

Researchers at Weizmann Institute create innovative method to track rapid material changes using two laser beams, enabling precise reconstruction of optical delay changes. This advance could lead to the development of fastest processors possible, increasing data transmission speed.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalNature Photonics·DateMar 13, 2025

Burning cancer's bridges

Researchers discovered that aggressive breast cancer prompts nearby immune cells to build 'molecular bridges' between themselves, suppressing the immune response. An antibody treatment that blocks these bridges was shown to restore the immune system's ability to attack with force, inhibiting tumor growth in a mouse model.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalCell Reports·DateDec 23, 2024