News

Non-invasive brain stimulation, combined with cognitive training, could significantly improve symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, according to new research jointly led by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, University of Surrey and the Assuta-Ashdod University Medical Center.

Nuclear Spin: A Quantum Leap in Understanding Biological Processes

A research team led by Prof. Yossi Paltiel at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem with groups from HUJI, Weizmann and IST Austria new study reveals the influence of nuclear spin on biological processes. This discovery challenges long-held assumptions and opens up exciting possibilities for advancements in biotechnology and quantum biology.

Pulmonary embolism (PE), a life-threatening condition caused by blood clots in the lung, has long posed a significant risk to patients worldwide. However, a recent study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) suggests that catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) may offer a safer alternative for high-risk PE patients. The research indicates a lower risk of death and bleeding complications associated with CDT compared to other treatments.

New research on cracks changes the way that we understand the fundamental physics that guide them. The importance of cracks and how they propagate is paramount, as the behavior of cracks governs material.

In response to the recent legislation, the aChord Center- Social Psychology for Social Change at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem conducted a comprehensive flash study to gauge public sentiment regarding the proposed reform. The study's insightful findings shed light on prevailing concerns and attitudes among the Israeli public, revealing significant implications for the ongoing protests.

Low-income individuals in Israel, face significant difficulties when trying to access passported benefits. Despite being eligible for various benefits such as tax discounts and rent assistance, many struggle to navigate the complex bureaucratic processes involved in claiming them. Eligibility complexities, varying automation levels, and different service delivery methods, hinder access in many cases to much-needed support. The decentralization of benefits and inadequate coordination among entities further exacerbates these challenges.

A study that explores the effects of adding greenhouse gases to the atmospheres of Earth and TRAPPIST-1e, an Earth-like exoplanet, found that supplementing CO2 leads to increased warming in certain regions of both planets, causing changes in global circulation patterns.

A recent study conducted by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem sheds light on the impact of DNA profiles on prosecutorial decisions in the criminal justice system.

In the pursuit of justice, law enforcement agencies heavily rely on forensic evidence, with DNA testing constituting the cornerstone of modern investigations. While the scientific and technological advancements in DNA testing have been extensively studied, there is scant evidence regarding how the availability of DNA evidence influences prosecutors’ decisions to move cases forward.

A recent study led by Dr. Itamar Harel from the Silberman Institute at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has revealed new insights into the role of AMP biosynthesis in the lifespan and metabolic health of vertebrates. The findings of this study have far-reaching implications, significantly advancing our understanding of the intricate interplay between energy metabolism, aging, and lifespan regulation. Moreover, the study opens up exciting possibilities for developing interventions to combat age-related metabolic diseases and enhance healthy aging.

New ArchCUT3-D Technology Explores 3-D Micromorphological Characteristics of Engravings with Unprecedented Precision

A groundbreaking study conducted by a multidisciplinary team that include a computational archaeologist, artist, and computer programmer has revealed new insights into ancient rock engravings and the techniques used by ancient engravers. The research, carried out at Site 25 in Timna Park, Southern Israel, has captivated experts and offers a fresh perspective on the production processes of these fascinating engraved rocks.

The Institute of Archaeology at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is pleased to announce the publication of a new research article titled "Early City Planning in the Kingdom of Judah: Khirbet Qeiyafa, Beth Shemesh 4, Tell en-Naṣbeh, Khirbet ed-Dawwara, and Lachish V" by Prof. Yosef Garfinkel.The article appeared recently in the institute publication Jerusalem Journal of Archaeology.

Hebrew University of Jerusalem announces a groundbreaking development in the field of optical measurement techniques. Researchers at the university have successfully addressed a long-standing challenge in the scientific community, achieving atomic-level precision in the measurement and mapping of the thicknesses of two-dimensional (2D) material flakes.

Malaria is a major global health issue, killing half a million people each year – mostly very young children in sub-Saharan Africa.

In pursuit of a cure is Dr. Anat Florentin, a science and nature enthusiast, who joined Hebrew University’s Faculty School of Medicine in July 2020. On this episode of HUJI Bites, Florentin discusses her ground-breaking research into the apicoplast – an organelle inside the parasite cell and a promising candidate as a potential drug target against the disease.

Hebrew University Researchers Advance Simple and Inexpensive Diagnostic Blood Test

A new blood test has the potential to diagnose a wide array of diseases including cancers, liver diseases, immune disorders and more.  Extremely accurate, the test can report on the exact state and location of the disease without need for invasive and painful biopsies.

Amidst Decreasing Global Bee Populations, New Finding Provides Optimism for Bee Habitat Conservation

Drs. Yonit Hochberg and Mor Nitzan Among 43% of ERC Grants Awarded to Women, Highest Rate Ever

Close to 400 early-career researchers won European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grants, among them two promising female researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU). These grants, worth on average €1.5 million each, will help ambitious younger researchers launch their own projects, form their teams and pursue their best ideas. 

Professor Emerita Ruth Gavison was a world-renowned expert in jurisprudence, a brilliant philosopher, and a pivotal figure in the Israeli public discourse on the relationships between law and morality, politics and religions. As a leading voice for human rights and Israeli democracy, she founded and served as president of Israel’s largest civil rights organization the Association for Civil Rights in Israel.

Largest-Ever German-Israeli Academic Grant to Promote Research on Human Rights and Minority Protections in Age of Rising Nationalism and Authoritarianism

The Alfred Landecker Foundation has awarded the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) a $13 million USD grant to fund academic initiatives that focus on the causes and consequences of the Holocaust, promote studies on human rights, minority protection, the rule of law, and reparations for historical wrongs and injustices.

The Abel Prize, often referred to as the Nobel of Mathematics, was established to recognize contributions that are of “extraordinary depth and influence”.
Today, the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters announced it will award the Abel Prize to Hillel Furstenberg at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Gregory Margulis at Yale University “for pioneering the use of methods from probability and dynamics in group theory, number theory and combinatorics”. 

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) mourns the passing of Professor Zeev Sternhell.  Sternhell was a world-renowned expert on fascism and nationalism and Emeritus Professor at HU's Political Science Department.  He was 85 years old and is survived by his wife Ziva and two daughters, Tali and Yael.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides visited the Hebrew University in Jerusalem (HU) today, his first visit to an Israeli academic institution.  During the visit, Ambassador Nides met with senior University leaders – including the university’s president, Prof. Asher Cohen, its vice-president Amb. Yossi Gal and its rector, Prof. Barak Medina – as well as with prominent researchers and scientists. Ambassador Nides also met with university students and professors who take part in Embassy-sponsored programs and chatted with them about the importance of diversity and higher education.

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

New Deans at the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Social Sciences, the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, and the School of Education

(Jerusalem, July 12, 2022) The Hebrew University of Jerusalem has announced the appointment of four new deans who will take up their posts at the beginning of the upcoming academic year in October 2022.

On Eve of 4 Month Anniversary of Russian Invasion, Zelenskyy Asks the World, “How Can You Not Help the Victims of Such Aggression?”

Today, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) in a live speech from Kiev. The speech was broadcast on the university’s social media channels and followed by Q&A with students and staff.

In honor of Jerusalem Day, a special session of Israel’s Knesset, headed by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, was held at the Hebrew University (HU)’s Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences (ELSC) at the Edmond J. Safra Campus in Jerusalem.

Filmmaker Quentin Tarantino received an honorary degree--“Doctor Philosophiae Honoris Causa”--from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) at a festive ceremony during the 85^th Board of Governors (BOG) meeting.

Considering the threat on the lives of academics and university students in Ukraine, and in a show of solidarity, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) has offered academic hosting for Ukrainian academic staff and students.  To date, 18 such refugees have been accepted to continue their studies at the University and 10 have already arrived at our Jerusalem and Rehovot campuses. 

Israel’s academic cooperation with Morocco hit a high point this week with the visit of a senior delegation from Morocco’s Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI).

Seeking to establish a medical school and school of pharmacy, the UM6P representatives met with Professor Dina Ben Yehuda, Dean of the Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, to learn how HUJI prepares its future doctors for a medical career based on computational medicine and AI, while maintaining humanity and compassion for their patients.

(Jerusalem, March 17, 2022)—Moshe Shenfeld, a computer science PhD candidate at Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU)’s Rachel and Selim Benin School of Engineering and Computer Science has been selected as an Apple Scholar in AI/Machine Learning for 2022.  Shenfeld is one of only 15 awardees worldwide, the other Israeli recipient is from Tel Aviv University.  The PhD fellowship in Machine Learning and AI was created by Apple “to celebrate the contributions of students pursuing cutting-edge fundamental and applied machine learning research worldwide”.

Plus Teaching Posts, Stipends and Studies for Fleeing Ukrainian Academics and University Students

In a show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) and HU Student Union hoisted the Ukrainian flag on its campus on Mt. Scopus.  The University and its students seek to send a message of support and encouragement to Ukraine, which is now suffering the second week of a brutal invasion by the Russian military.

New Hebrew U. Survey Finds 53% of Israelis Expect Situation to Worsen for Jews in Europe; France Now Tied with Poland as Europe’s Most Antisemitic Country, According to Israelis

Among 2,000 universities surveyed worldwide, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) ranked 90^th in the 2021 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU)’s evaluation of higher education institutions.  This marks HU’s best showing since 2016.

Smoking among young teens has become an increasingly challenging and costly public healthcare issue.  Despite legislation to prevent the marketing of tobacco products to children, tobacco companies have shrewdly adapted their advertising tactics to circumvent the ban and maintain their access to this impressionable—and growing—market share. 

The Technion and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have signed a partnership agreement with IBM Research to advance artificial intelligence capabilities and applications in Israel. The collaboration was announced this week at a conference held by IBM in Tel Aviv to mark 50 years since the establishment of the IBM Research Lab in Israel.

A $650,000 grant from The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation will support a new partnership between UCLA and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) focused on developing school violence prevention strategies that turn campuses into safe and welcoming places for children worldwide.

Whether in photosynthesis or in a photovoltaic system: If you want to use light efficiently, you have to absorb it as completely as possible. However, this is difficult if the absorption is to take place in a thin layer of material that normally lets a large part of the light pass through.

 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.

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. 

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.

(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.