Research

New study suggests that an experimental peptide developed at the Hebrew University may reduce recurring seizures and support brain function by targeting underlying oxidative stress and inflammation processes linked to epilepsy. Unlike current treatments that focus mainly on suppressing seizures, this approach could influence how the disease develops over time, with the greatest benefits appearing when treatment begins early. The findings point to a promising direction for future therapies aimed at improving long-term outcomes for people living with epilepsy.

A new study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem examined how thought-patterns associated with unfairness, known as perceived injustice, shape people’s psychological responses to trauma. Conducted following the October 7th attack and during the subsequent war, the study revealed that as individuals viewed their suffering as more unjust and irreparable, they experienced more severe and persistent traumatic stress symptoms, even months later. The research highlights perceived injustice as a key factor influencing recovery and resilience in the aftermath of trauma.

A new study has uncovered a rare behavior in the material of the teeth of the Atlantic wolffish. This material is osteodentin, the tissue at the tooth’s core, which appears to shrink in every direction when it’s squeezed along its length, a response that is exceptionally rare in natural materials, particularly mineral-rich materials. The finding helps explain how the wolffish’s teeth endure repeated punishing biting forces and could point researchers toward new designs for tougher, more resilient synthetic materials.

A new study highlights a semi-transparent, color-tunable solar cell designed to work in places traditional panels can’t, like windows and flexible surfaces. Using a 3D-printed pillar structure, the researchers can fine-tune how much light passes through and what color the cell appears, without changing the solar material itself. The result is a system that balances strong energy output with durability, while giving designers far more control over how the technology looks and functions.

New study shows that in women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, their breast cells already carry a clear pattern of DNA “damage spots” long before any tumor appears. These weak points tend to sit on important cancer-related genes and look very similar to what is later seen in actual breast cancer. In the future this could help doctors detect cancer much earlier and maybe even stop it before it starts.

A new study shows that year-long home visits with older adults help first-year medical students build stronger communication skills, rethink assumptions about aging, and understand patient care beyond the clinic.

For many medical students, the earliest years of training are heavy on textbooks and light on real patient contact. But a new study suggests that meaningful clinical learning can begin much earlier, not in hospitals, but in people’s homes.

Medical errors remain one of the leading causes of death, yet healthcare systems continue to struggle to reduce them. A new perspective article argues that fear of legal consequences, institutional secrecy, and poor communication prevent healthcare from learning from failure. It calls for a cultural shift toward transparency, responsibility, and psychological safety, framing learning from mistakes as essential to saving lives and restoring trust in medicine.

A new Science paper challenges the idea that language stems from a single evolutionary root. Instead, it proposes that our ability to communicate evolved through the interaction of biology and culture, and involves multiple capacities, each with different evolutionary histories. The framework unites discoveries across disciplines to explain how the ability to learn to speak, develop grammar, and share meaning converged to create complex communication.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem held a special ceremony this week honoring the recipients of the Waldman Family Scholarship and the long-standing Yashinsky Prize.

Prof. Tamir Sheafer, President of the Hebrew University, joined Mr. Eyal Waldman, Israel Prize laureate and founder of Mellanox, and his brother Mr. Ofer Waldman, in presenting the awards to exceptional researchers from across the university.

State-funded five-star hotel stays may sound appealing for a weekend, but when thousands of Israelis were evacuated to hotels during the October 7th war, the experience quickly proved far from idyllic. A new study reveals how hotels- symbols of a “luxury experience”, can mirror the psychological pains of imprisonment during wartime, raising urgent questions about the complex experiences of displaced communities, even under seemingly ideal conditions.