News

When it comes to the world’s climate, in the past decade, planet Earth keeps sending us its summer siren’s call. According to NASA, nineteen of the hottest years have occurred since 2000, with 2016 and 2020 tied for the hottest on record. This summer is already making worldwide headlines, with England scorching beyond 40 degrees Celsius.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) climbed 13 places to rank 77^th among the world’s top universities and number one in Israel, according to the 2022 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), published today (Monday).  Topping the list were Harvard, followed by Stanford, MIT, Cambridge, and UCLA Berkeley.  Two other Israeli universities placed in the top 100, as well—the Technion and Weizmann Institute both shared the 83^rd spot.  This is a major achievement for Israel’s higher education at large and for Hebrew U., specifically.

As the world grapples with the cataclysmic events associated with climate change, it is increasingly important to have accurate climate models that can help predict what might lie ahead. 

With a Constant Renewal of Cell Vitality in Diseased Tissues, This New Drug Will Hopefully Lead to the Treatment or Prevention of Diseases, Such As Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s

Archaeological Excavations Near Temple Mount Also Unearth Pool Built by Soldiers From Rome’s 10th Legion and Byzantine Lamp Inscribed “The light of Christ Shines for All”

2022 Academic Ranking of World Universities Ranks Hebrew University 17^th Worldwide in Mathematics and Communications, and #1 in Israel in Earth Sciences, Food Sciences, Water Resources, Economics, and Public Policy

Hebrew University & Hadassah Medical Center Researchers Attribute Discrepancy in Pain Med Prescriptions at Emergency Rooms in US and Israel to Reduced Empathy

Researchers at Hebrew University Have the Answer  

Findings will Help Develop New Strains for Medical Cannabis Users and Increase Crop Yields

From the Middle Bronze Age, Egypt played a crucial role in the appearance of calcite-alabaster artifacts in Israel, and the development of the local gypsum-alabaster industry. The absence of ancient calcite-alabaster quarries in the Southern Levant (modern day Israel and Palestine) led to the assumption that all calcite-alabaster vessels found in the Levant originated from Egypt, while poorer quality vessels made of gypsum were local products.

Hebrew University Team Finds People Overestimate the Presence of Minorities Around Them, Impeding Efforts to Build a more Equitable and Inclusive Society

Probing the world of the very, very small is a wonderland for physicists.  At this nano-scale, where materials as thin as 100 atoms are studied, totally new and unexpected phenomena are discovered.  Here, nature ceases to behave in a way that is predictable by the macroscopic law of physics, unlike what goes on in the world around us or out in the cosmos.

Airovation Technologies was awarded the prestigious 2025 Asper Prize for “The Hebrew University Rising Startup”. The prize, part of a competition launched by ASPER-HUJI Innovate, the university’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in collaboration with the Asper Foundation, drew entries from more than fifty startups. Airovation Technologies secured the top spot after presenting to an international panel of judges.

Why do so many people relapse after quitting cocaine? A new study from The Hebrew University reveals that a specific “anti-reward” brain circuit becomes hyperactive during withdrawal—driving discomfort and pushing users back toward the drug. Surprisingly, this circuit may also serve as a built-in protective mechanism, offering new hope for addiction treatment.

In a major stride toward tackling aggressive breast cancer, researchers from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem have developed druglike molecules that degrade a previously “undruggable” cancer-driving protein. The target, HuR—an RNA-binding protein known for stabilizing oncogenic messages—has long eluded traditional therapies. Now, using next-generation strategies involving molecular glues and PROTACs, researchers have uncovered a promising route to disarm HuR and suppress tumor growth from the inside out.

The Hebrew University paused its activities today for 58 minutes, calling for the release of the 58 hostages still trapped in hell in Gaza.

At gatherings held simultaneously across the university’s four campuses (Mount Scopus, Givat Ram, Ein Kerem, and Rehovot), each minute was dedicated to one of the hostages held by Hamas—for 600 days now.

Professor Asher Cohen, President of the Hebrew University, urged the Israeli government to do everything in its power to bring them all home now, stating:

A new study has uncovered how stress experienced by mothers during pregnancy leaves a molecular imprint on their babies—starting before birth. The research shows that prenatal stress alters the expression of tiny RNA molecules in newborn blood, particularly in female children, and affects key enzymes in the brain's stress-regulation system. These changes may help explain why some children are more vulnerable to developmental or psychiatric challenges. The study opens new possibilities for early diagnosis and interventions targeting stress-related health risks.

A promising new discovery from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem reveals that cross-linked hyaluronic acid (XHA) significantly enhances the retention and concentration of topical antibiotics in the tear film of dogs. Compared to traditional formulations using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), the XHA-based eyedrops maintained higher drug levels for longer durations. This innovation not only suggests improved treatment outcomes for veterinary patients – it also carries meaningful implications for human medicine.

A new study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem reveals that bacterial movement plays a central role in the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes. The research team discovered that the rotation of flagella in Bacillus subtilis acts as a mechanical signal that activates key conjugation genes. This enables donor bacteria to form clusters with recipients and successfully transfer DNA in liquid environments. The findings suggest that bacteria can use motion to control when and where gene sharing occurs, offering new insight into the spread of resistance across species.

Cigarette smoke causes cancer primarily by damaging the DNA. A new study that mapped the DNA damages caused by smoking, reveals that the way our DNA is organized and chemically modified can influence how cigarette smoke damages it, how well the damage is repaired and how many mutations will form. Specifically, areas of DNA that are more open and active are more prone to damage but also better at repairing themselves, which helps to prevent mutations.

Board of Trustees Re-elects Asher Cohen as University President

Hebrew University Study Analyzes How Corona Has Changed How We Remember

“This global crisis created a far more accepting culture for the role digital media must play in remembrance.”

1. Jewish Educators for the 21st Century, Featuring Shuvi Hoffman

Sunday, June 8, 20:00 Jerusalem time - Register Here.

2. Covid-19: Entrepreneuring the Morning After, Featuring Dr. Amnon Dekel & Ayelet Cohen

Wednesday, June 17, 20:00 Jerusalem time - Register Here.

In an effort to increase agricultural productivity and limit waste, a team of researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU)’s Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment developed a method to detect signs of stress before the plant is damaged.

Initial Clinical Data from Hebrew University Shows Promising Results, Supporting Early Evidence of Fenofibrate Ability to Prevent Lung Damage in Corona Patients

Drug can reduce COVID-19 severity and mortality even as newly emerging vaccines reduce transmission

We all know that DNA molecules express heredity through genetic information.  However, in the past few years, scientists have discovered that DNA can conduct electrical currents.  This makes it an interesting candidate for roles that nature did not intend for this molecule, such as smaller, faster and cheaper electric circuits in electronic devices, and to detect the early stages of diseases like cancer and COVID-19.

A joint Israeli-Italian nanosatellite has been launched into space – with a Hebrew University experiment on board!