Hebrew University Research Finds Optimism Extends Life Expectancy Among Seniors

Hebrew University Research Finds Optimism Extends Life Expectancy Among Seniors

1 June, 2021

Happiness might lead to better health but does it help you live longer? That’s a question that researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) took on in a longitudinal study they began back in the 1990s.  They looked at the impact of optimism on longevity and found that maintaining a positive outlook can directly extend your life. Professor Jochanan Stessman, Director of HU’s Institute on Aging led the study, along with HU’s Prof. Jeremy Jacobs and Dr. Yoram Maaravi.  They published their findings in The Journals of Gerontology.

Research
Medicine
Hebrew University Researchers Decipher the Sweet Taste of Heavy Water

Hebrew University Researchers Decipher the Sweet Taste of Heavy Water

6 May, 2021

A long-standing, unresolved puzzle concerns the taste of heavy water.  Regular water has no distinct taste but rumors indicate that heavy water tastes sweet.  Why is this so if heavy water, D2O, is practically identical to ordinary water, H2O? 

Research
Sciences
HUJI Bites: The Biology of Honeybees with Dr. Sharoni Shafir

HUJI Bites: The Biology of Honeybees with Dr. Sharoni Shafir

16 April, 2021

This week marks Yom Hazikaron and Yom Haatzmaut.  A time to honor Israel’s fallen soldiers, as well as celebrate Israel Independence Day.

On this episode of HUJI Bites, we speak with Dr. Sharoni Shafir, head of the recently established Institute of Environmental Sciences at The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment at The Hebrew University. The Institute works to promote research and teaching in environmental sciences in agriculture – combining the diverse research approaches of the over 40 research laboratories that comprise the Institute.

Staff
Research
Making Sense of Megadroughts with Dr. Nathan Steiger

Making Sense of Megadroughts with Dr. Nathan Steiger

23 April, 2021

Featuring Dr. Nathan Steiger, The Fredy and Nadine Hermann Institute of Earth Science in the Faculty of Science This week we celebrate Earth Day – a day that promotes clean living and a healthy, sustainable habitat for people and wildlife alike. A main component to a cleaner environment is climate education. At The Fredy and Nadine Herrmann Institute of Earth Sciences at The Hebrew University they are doing just that – focusing on the latest in the fields of climate change, water resources and natural hazards.

Research
HUJI Bites: A Formula for Success with Prof. Hillel Furstenberg, Abel Prize Winner 2020

HUJI Bites: A Formula for Success with Prof. Hillel Furstenberg, Abel Prize Winner 2020

29 April, 2021

Professor Hillel Furstenberg, a researcher in the Einstein Institute for Mathematics and professor emeritus at The Hebrew University, was awarded the 2020 Abel Prize – the Nobel Prize of Mathematics. The award recognized his incredible achievements and contributions in the field, and he is the first Israeli to win this prestigious prize.

Staff
In the media
Research
HUJI Bites: The Science Behind Mosquitoes with Dr. Jonathan Bohbot

HUJI Bites: The Science Behind Mosquitoes with Dr. Jonathan Bohbot

5 March, 2021

Did you know that there is more to mosquitoes than their stinger? Their sense of smell can actually help us! And no one "nose" them better then Hebrew University Assistant Professor of Entomology, Dr. Jonathan Bohbot. 

On this episode of HUJI Bites, we get a taste of the science behind mosquitoes and the fascinating research taking place in Bohbot's lab at The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment at The Hebrew University.

Staff
Research
Going Green: As World Celebrates Earth Day, Hebrew U. Launches New Academic Center for Sustainability

Going Green: As World Celebrates Earth Day, Hebrew U. Launches New Academic Center for Sustainability

22 April, 2021

Center to Promote Research Initiatives Alongside University’s “Green Campus” Sustainability Programs

  As the world commemorates Earth Day 2021, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) has announced its new Center for Sustainability.  The Center is being established to increase environmental research and teaching within the University and to promote sustainability projects across Israel.  

Research
Potato Biosensor

New Biological Sensor Detects Hidden Rot in Potatoes

7 September, 2022

 Despite advances in increased food production, half of all world’s harvested food is lost due to rot caused by microorganisms.  Plants emit various volatile organic compounds into their surrounding environment, which can be monitored for early detection of plant disease and prevent food loss.

 

Staff
Innovation
Research
Research & Study Programs
Sciences
Left and middle image: Impact of extreme heatwave and drought in summer 2018 compared to summer 2017, on fields near Slagelse in Zealand, Denmark (Credit: European Space Agency).   Right image: Danish maize field in July 2018 (Credit: Janne Hansen).

Desert Regions May Be Best Predictors of Climate Change in Wetter Areas, Hebrew University Study Reveals

16 August, 2022

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.

 

In the media
Innovation
Research
Sustainability
Sciences
Social Sciences
Humanities
ARWU Ranking

THE RESULTS ARE IN: Hebrew University Ranks 77th Worldwide and #1 in Israel, According to the 2022 Academic Ranking of World Universities

16 August, 2022

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) climbed 13 places to rank 77th 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 83rd spot.  This is a major achievement for Israel’s higher education at large and for Hebrew U., specifically.

 

Staff
Students
In the media
Innovation
Research
Sciences
Medicine
Social Sciences
Humanities
Lightning over Jerusalem

Coarse Sea Spray Keeps Lightning Strikes Away

11 August, 2022

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. 

 

In the media
Innovation
Research
Social Sciences
Israel - A Leader In Academic Innovation!

Israel - A Leader In Academic Innovation!

25 October, 2021

The Innovation Centers of the Hebrew University and of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have won 2 of the world’s most prestigious prizes in higher education entrepreneurship.

Innovation
Young Girl Receiving Chemotherapy. by National Cancer Institute, unsplash

Hebrew University: Understanding the Impact of Medical Marijuana on Children, a Meta-Analysis

21 June, 2021

(Jerusalem, June 21, 2021)—In recent years, the use of medical cannabis to treat sick kids is on the rise, although questions remain about the benefits and safety of such treatments. Now, a team of researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) has completed a first-ever meta-analysis of pediatric patients treated with medical cannabis to understand better the risks and benefits of cannabis use among young patients.

In the media
Innovation
Medicine
Hebrew University Inches Closer to Harnessing DNA Molecules for Disease Detection and Electronics

Hebrew University Inches Closer to Harnessing DNA Molecules for Disease Detection and Electronics

15 September, 2020

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.

Innovation
Research