News

The horrific attack by Hamas on Israeli civilians on October 7, sparked the Iron Swords War and led to a widespread mobilization effort to support Israel. New survey revealed that 83% of the NGOs’ ability to provide assistance and social services was negatively impacted by the war, only 35% of organizations sought government assistance during the war, and 35% of the NGOs reported an increase in philanthropic support from abroad.

New study suggests that low-level laser therapy (PBM) offers immediate pain relief for Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) patients. Over 10 weeks, 30 participants experienced a significant drop in pain scores after each treatment. While efficacy decreased in the following week, a cumulative effect was observed, especially up to the third treatment. The findings highlight the potential of PBM as a promising treatment for BMS, despite some nuances in its effectiveness.

A recent study from Hebrew University has achieved a significant advancement in integrating single-photon sources onto tiny chips at room temperature, representing an important step forward in quantum photonics with potential for applications such as quantum computing and cryptography. This achievement signifies a milestone in the development of practical quantum photonic devices, heralding a promising future where quantum technologies, encompassing computing, communication, and sensing, can be fully realized.

A new study by the Hebrew University has unveiled a significant advancement in chaos theory, introducing a flux-based statistical theory that predicts chaotic outcomes in non-hierarchical three-body systems. This breakthrough holds practical implications for fields such as celestial mechanics, astrophysics, and molecular dynamics, offering a more efficient and precise approach to analyzing complex systems and enabling deeper exploration and understanding of chaotic phenomena.

Research introduces new DNA methylation-based method for accurately assessing cell composition in the human pancreas, addressing a critical gap in diabetes research. By overcoming limitations of traditional protein marker-based approaches, the study provides a more precise means to identify specific cell types. The findings offer insights into beta-cell dysfunction across diabetes types and have direct clinical implications, enhancing our understanding of diabetes development and potentially guiding more tailored treatment strategies.

New study at Hebrew University uncovered a previously unknown connection between light and magnetism. This discovery could lead to super-fast light-controlled memory technology and innovative sensors that detect the magnetic part of light. This breakthrough is expected to revolutionize how we store data and build devices in various industries.

In 2023,  22 cases of gender-based murders of women were perpetrated in Israel by  men. The ethnic breakdown showcased a significant divide, with 50% of victims being Jewish and 41% hailing from the Arab sector, encompassing Druze, Bedouin, and Muslim women. In 86% of the instances, the victims shared a prior relationship with the perpetrators, who were nearly all (95%) from their own ethnic communities. 59% of known killers were either spouses or family members of the victims.

New study reveals intricate link between psychological resilience, mood variations, and inhibitory control in an ecological setting. Notably, the connection between an individual's capacity for inhibitory control and their day-to-day mood is significantly shaped by their underlying level of psychological resilience. This discovery underscores the complex interplay between cognitive functions and emotional reactions, providing invaluable insights into the manifestation of resilient behavior in daily life.

Researchers at Hebrew University and University of Madison-Wisconsin Discover Seven New Spider Species in Caves in Israel

Findings Contribute to Understanding Israel’s Evolutionary, Biogeographic and Climatic Processes

MAPSULES Augment Efficacy of Cancer Nanotherapies with Remote Controlled Delivery of Local Therapeutics at Precise Release Rates

Why people with disabilities have trouble with dentists -

By Barbara Sofer, Israel director of public relations at Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America. Her latest book is A Daughter of Many Mothers.

How can boys and girls, or men and women with intellectual and physical disabilities carry them out? For them, just sitting in the chair amid the machinery for long periods is a hardship.

An international team led by Professor Hagai Levine of Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Hadassah Braun School of Public Health, with Prof. Shanna Swan at the Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York, along with researchers in Denmark, Brazil, Spain, Israel and the USA, published the first meta-analysis to demonstrate declining sperm counts among men from South and Central America, Asia and Africa.

The alphabet was invented around 1800 BCE and was used by the Canaanites and later by most other languages in the world.  Until recently, no meaningful Canaanite inscriptions had been discovered in the Land of Israel, save only two or three words here and there. Now an amazing discovery presents an entire sentence in Canaanite, dating to about 1700 BCE. It is engraved on a small ivory comb and includes a spell against lice.

This first of its kind partnership between Meta and an Israeli university marks a significant step to bring industry-leading Artificial Intelligence research from Hebrew University’s Rachel and Selim Benin School of Computer Science and Engineering to the AI marketplace. 

(Jerusalem, October 26, 2022)--Today, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU)’s School of Engineering and Computer Science and Yissum, HU’s technology transfer company announced a new research partnership with Meta AI.

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.

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. 

New Hebrew U. Survey Probes German and Israelis Perceptions of One Another, Shows Bilateral Support for Germany as Middle-East Mediator

The visit to Israel on March 2^nd of Germany's newly-elected Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, heralds a new era in German-Israel ties.  On the heels of this visit, it is timely to announce the findings of a recent survey conducted in Israel and Germany by The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU)'s European Forum, which reveals a complex picture regarding Israeli perceptions of Germany, as well as German perceptions of Israel. 

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

The CERN Council announced the election of Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) physicist Professor Eliezer Rabinovici as its 24th President as of January 2022.  Based in Geneva, Switzerland, CERN is the largest nuclear particle research center in the world.   Rabinovici will be taking over from Dr. Ursula Bassler, who concludes her term at the end of 2021.

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. 

Board of Trustees Re-elects Asher Cohen as University President

Infants are born unable to care for themselves. Their survival and development depend on their caregivers. Studies show that early social bonding with a primary caregiver is necessary for mental and physical health and is associated with greater well-being and success in adulthood.

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.

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.

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.

Mass Spectrometry Imaging (MSI) is a powerful tool through which we can learn how diseases develop and study how to successfully treat them. Implementing this revolutionary technique in Israel is Dr. Katy Margulis, a graduate and award-winning Senior Lecturer/Assistant Professor at Hebrew University’s School of Pharmacy.

On this episode of HUJI Bites, Margulis gives us a slice of the science behind Mass Spectrometry and the importance of bringing this cutting-edge research to her alma mater in Israel.

Stress and Smoking Rates Up Among All Hospital Workers, New Hebrew U. Study Finds

A new study, published in the leading journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research’s special issue devoted to smoking and COVID-19, found that being on the COVID-19 frontlines could negatively impact hospital workers’ mental health—even during lull periods and even for ancillary hospital staff, such as maintenance workers and administrative staff.  

Hebrew University study shows lipid-lowering drug reduced inflammation in 48 hours and removed the need for oxygen support within 5 to 7 days for hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus has infected over 165 million people worldwide causing nearly 3.5 million deaths. Recent vaccination efforts have been hindered by multiple coronavirus variants that challenge current vaccines. While infection generally produces a mild disease, in some patients it can develop into a severe inflammatory COVID-19 requiring medical intervention.

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.”

Join us for this special webinar series and learn directly from some of Hebrew University’s greatest minds about the implications of
the coronavirus.

1. Financial Implications of the Pandemic, Featuring Prof. Dan Galai

Monday, March 23, 20:00 Jerusalem time - Register Here.

Prof. Emeritus, the Jerusalem School of Business Administration, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

The Edmond de Rothschild Foundation has generously provided the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) with 15 million NIS to fund coronavirus research.  The donation will fund 60 research teams at HU that are working to find a vaccine, produce faster and cheaper testing methods, and develop targeted treatments for those afflicted by COVID-19. 

Global Survey of 4,000 Coronavirus Patients Supports Link Between COVID-19 and Loss of Smell and Taste

Promising Hebrew University - Mount Sinai Research Shows Coronavirus Causes Lungs to Accumulate Fat; Cholesterol-Lowering Drug May Hold Key to Stopping COVID-19 in its Tracks. 

Could a simple drug, that has been on the market for decades, be used to treat COVID-19?  A research team led by Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU)’s Professor Yaakov Nahmias says that early research looks promising; their findings appear in this week’s Cell Press’ Sneak Peak.

The researchers’ updated analysis: “preparations must be carried out for tightening the current restrictions. Given the current rate of infection, another outbreak will be significantly worse than the first.” They are not warning of a separate wave, but rather a resurgence of the second wave. 

Join us for this special webinar series and learn directly from some of Hebrew University’s greatest minds about the implications of the coronavirus.

1. The Real Risk Of The Spread Of The CoronaVirus (French). Register Here.

2. Don't Panic: Dealing With Anxiety In The Age Of Coronavirus (English). Register Here.

The HUBS-Aid project led by Hebrew University Business School (HUBS) responded to the Gaza conflict's impact on small businesses with innovative support, pairing them with mentors and students to devise tailored plans for recovery and growth. Around 80 businesses received vital assistance, demonstrating resilience and fostering community bonds amidst adversity.

The Hebrew University proudly announces its participation in the launch of the AI Alliance, a pioneering collaboration between global industry, academic, research, and government organizations. Set to take place on Tuesday, December 5, this initiative aims to revolutionize the landscape of AI innovation.

The "German Science Foundation" (DFG) has approved the financing of an innovative joint school for doctoral students, an international collaboration between the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the University of Leipzig, and the Dubnow Institute in Leipzig. This groundbreaking academic initiative marks a significant step towards fostering international collaboration in the field of humanities.

Goethe University Frankfurt and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI) have announced a significant step in their ongoing scientific collaboration in the field of childhood studies. The two prestigious universities have signed a cooperation agreement to establish 'The Center for Childhood and Child Welfare in Context'.

The European Research Council (ERC), the grant fund of the European Union, has allocated 16.7 million euros (NIS 69 million) to support ten researchers from Hebrew University with 'Starting Grants.' Each of these scholars will receive an individual grant ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 million euros, totaling 16,770,424 euros. Hebrew University stands out as the top-performing Israeli institution with the highest success rate in grant applications. Additionally, the university has witnessed a 5.5 percent increase in the number of grant recipients compared to 2022.

First prize of NIS 100,000 awarded to Avertto for developing for developing a system to prevent and heal strokes

Antibiotic resistance is a growing public health concern with global implications. Antibiotic-resistant infection affects over 2.8 million individuals each year in the United States alone, resulting in more than 35,000 annual deaths. New resistance mechanisms constantly emerge and spread globally, threatening our ability to treat common infectious diseases, such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, and sepsis.

This first of its kind partnership between Meta and an Israeli university marks a significant step to bring industry-leading Artificial Intelligence research from Hebrew University’s Rachel and Selim Benin School of Computer Science and Engineering to the AI marketplace. 

(Jerusalem, October 26, 2022)--Today, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU)’s School of Engineering and Computer Science and Yissum, HU’s technology transfer company announced a new research partnership with Meta AI.

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.