News & Press Releases

How Parents' Support and Emotional Guidance Shape Homework Success

8 September, 2024

New research from Hebrew University shows that how well parents understand their children and manage their own emotions greatly affects homework time. Parents who are good at understanding their kids are more supportive and help them become more independent and motivated to learn. On the other hand, parents who have trouble managing their emotions are more likely to act negatively, which can make it harder for children to stay engaged and do well in their learning

Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have uncovered new insights into the mechanisms that contribute to parental ability to support their children academically. Led by Dr. Naama Gershy and PhD student Racheli Cohen from the School of Education, in collaboration with Prof. Maayan Davidov from the School of Social Work and Social Welfare, the study explored why so many parents struggle to support their children during homework.

The research shows that parents' emotional and cognitive processes can greatly influence their interactions with their children during homework time. By studying 101 Israeli parents and their elementary-aged children, the researchers identified factors that can either help or hinder the support parents provide at home.

Children usually spend about 1 to 2 hours a day on homework, but this varies with age and school demands. Many parents find it challenging to balance their own responsibilities while supporting their children academically, which can lead to stress and conflict. Improving this dynamic is crucial.

One key finding is the role of parental mentalization—the ability to perceive and interpret their children’s thoughts and feelings. Parents who are good at mentalization are more supportive and less controlling, creating a better homework environment that can boosts children’s independent learning and motivation. Conversely, parents who struggle with managing their emotions tend to express negative behaviors, like frustration or discouragement, which can make homework stressful and curtail their child’s engagement.

"Our research sheds light on how parents’ emotional and mental processes impact their involvement in their children’s education," explained Dr. Gershy. "Understanding these factors can help develop strategies that improve parent-child interactions during homework, and hence increase parental ability to support and encourage their children’s learning ."

Practical applications of these findings could include parent training programs and educational strategies to improve parents’ awareness of their emotional states and mentalization skills, aiming to enhance parental support and foster better academic outcomes and relationship.

The research paper titled “Why Things Can Go Wrong When Parents Try to Help Children With Their Homework: The Role of Parental Emotion Regulation and Mentalization” is now available at Journal of Educational Psychology and can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000873.

Researchers:

Racheli Cohen¹, Naama Gershy¹, Maayan Davidov²

Institution:

The Seymour Fox School of Education, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is Israel’s premier academic and research institution. With over 23,000 students from 90 countries, it is a hub for advancing scientific knowledge and holds a significant role in Israel’s civilian scientific research output, accounting for nearly 40% of it and has registered over 11,000 patents. The university’s faculty and alumni have earned eight Nobel Prizes, two Turing Awards a Fields Medal, underscoring their contributions to ground-breaking discoveries. In the global arena, the Hebrew University ranks 81st according to the Shanghai Ranking. To learn more about the university’s academic programs, research initiatives, and achievements, visit the official website at http://new.huji.ac.il/en

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Five Hebrew University Researchers Awarded Prestigious ERC Starting Grants for Groundbreaking Studies

5 September, 2024

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem proudly congratulates five of its esteemed researchers for receiving prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grants. These grants, each valued at approximately 1.5 million euros, are awarded to young researchers at the early stages of their careers, specifically those with 2-7 years of research experience since completing their PhDs.

"At Hebrew University, we are immensely proud of the outstanding achievements of these five exceptional researchers. Their work embodies the spirit of innovation and rigorous inquiry that defines our academic community. The prestigious ERC Starting Grants they have received are a testament to their dedication and the groundbreaking nature of their research. We look forward to witnessing the profound impact their studies will have on their respective fields and beyond." — Prof. Tamir Sheafer, Rector of Hebrew University

The recipients from Hebrew University are:

Dr. Karma Ben Johanan, from the Department of Comparative Religion, for her research titled "Christosemitism: Christian Anti-antisemitism in Europe, 1945-2020." This study explores the Christian rejection of antisemitism in post-World War II Europe, as it is expressed in theological, institutional and liturgical changes. Dr. Ben Johanan's work examines the Christian struggle against antisemitism against the backdrop of Western Christianity’s re-crystallization, in light of processes of secularization, decolonization, and the shift of Christianity's center of gravity from the West to the Global South.

Dr. Moran Frankel Pinter, from the Institute of Chemistry, for her research on the chemical origins of life, which seeks to bridge the gap between contemporary biochemistry and the chemical principles that led to life on Earth. Her ERC project focuses on characterizing how simple sugars, which were present on ancient Earth, combined to form functional catalytic polymers capable of self-assembly. Additionally, she investigates the role of these sugars in the emergence of complex catalytic chemical networks.

Dr. Ilan Komargodski, from the School of Engineering and Computer Science, for his research on fast and secure communication protocols. His work centers on the fundamentals of cryptography, with a focus on developing distributed communication protocols that ensure safety and privacy, protecting users from information leakage. His research in large-scale communication networks represents an area with potentially groundbreaking applications. Dr. Komargodski aims to deepen existing knowledge and uncover new approaches for secure computations involving vast numbers of participants and large volumes of information, a setting that is still relatively new and whose full applicability is not yet fully understood.

Dr. Noam Lifshitz, from the Einstein Institute of Mathematics, for his research in the analysis of Boolean functions, which take a string of zeros and ones as input and output either zero or one. Although Boolean functions are combinatorial objects, their study in this field utilizes tools from Fourier analysis, with "hypercontractivity" being one of the main techniques. His proposal aims to apply this tool in the context of group theory and representation theory, which focus on the study of symmetries.

Dr. Gideon Mamou, from the Faculty of Medicine, for his research on the structure of the bacterial envelope and its role in protecting against antibiotics. His work focuses on the multi-layered envelope that shields the bacterial cell, enabling it to withstand antibiotic treatments. While many components of this envelope have been identified, the understanding of their interrelationships remains limited. Dr. Mamou aims to deepen the understanding of how the cell coordinates the construction of all the envelope components and to uncover interactions within the envelope that contribute to its capability to protect against antibacterial substances.

Dr. Karma Ben Johanan | Credit: Assaf Feldman

Dr. Moran Frankel Pinter | Credit: Ariel Van Straten

Dr. Ilan Komargodski | Credit Ilan Komargodski

Dr. Noam Lifshitz | Credit: Martine Lanotte

Dr. Gideon Mamou | Credit Gideon Mamou

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is Israel’s premier academic and research institution. With over 23,000 students from 90 countries, it is a hub for advancing scientific knowledge and holds a significant role in Israel’s civilian scientific research output, accounting for nearly 40% of it and has registered over 11,000 patents. The university’s faculty and alumni have earned eight Nobel Prizes, two Turing Awards a Fields Medal, underscoring their contributions to ground-breaking discoveries. In the global arena, the Hebrew University ranks 81^st according to the Shanghai Ranking. To learn more about the university’s academic programs, research initiatives, and achievements, visit the official website at http://new.huji.ac.il/en

The ERC, set up by the European Union in 2007, is the premier European funding organisation for excellent frontier research. It funds creative researchers of any nationality and age, to run projects based across Europe. The ERC offers four core grant schemes: Starting Grants, Consolidator Grants, Advanced Grants and Synergy Grants. With its additional Proof of Concept Grant scheme, the ERC helps grantees to bridge the gap between their pioneering research and early phases of its commercialisation. The ERC is led by an independent governing body, the Scientific Council.

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Minimal ADHD Risk from Prenatal Cannabis Use New Study Reveals

4 September, 2024

A new study reveals nuanced findings on the neuropsychiatric risks of prenatal cannabis exposure. The research found a slight increase in the risk of ADHD and a heightened vulnerability to cannabis use in offspring. These results highlight the need for continued caution and further investigation into the long-term effects of cannabis use during pregnancy.

A new study led by Prof. Ilan Matok and Hely Bassalov PharmD from the Department of Clinical Pharmacy at the School of Pharmacy in the Faculty of Medicine at Hebrew University in collaboration with Prof. Omer Bonne and Dr. Noa Yakirevich-Amir from the Department of Psychiatry at the Hadassah Medical Center, sheds light on the potential long-term neuropsychiatric risks associated with prenatal cannabis exposure. As the global trend toward cannabis legalization continues, the prevalence of cannabis use among pregnant women is on the rise, raising concerns about its impact on fetal development.

The study, a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis involving over 500,000 participants from observational studies, aimed to assess the potential risks posed by prenatal exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis. THC is known to cross the placenta, potentially affecting the developing fetal brain.

The results of the study provide a nuanced understanding of the potential risks. Most notably, the findings indicate no significant association between prenatal cannabis exposure and an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), psychotic symptoms, anxiety, or depression in offspring. However, the study did identify a slight increase in the risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and a heightened vulnerability to cannabis consumption in children exposed to cannabis in utero.

“These findings suggest that while prenatal cannabis exposure does not appear to significantly increase the risk for many neuropsychiatric disorders, there is still a mild increase in the risk for ADHD and a greater likelihood of cannabis use in the offspring,” said Prof. Matok. “This calls for cautious interpretation, as it does not confirm the safety of cannabis consumption during pregnancy.”

The study emphasizes the importance of continued research in this area, especially given that most of the studies on the subject were conducted between the 1980s and early 2000s, when cannabis was characterized by considerably lower Δ9-THC content than currently used compounds. Thus, findings presented in the current study may potentially underestimate the impact of contemporary prenatal cannabis exposure on the long-term neuropsychiatric outcomes.

“While our study provides important insights, it is crucial to recognize that these results are not definitive. Pregnant women should be aware of the potential risks, and healthcare providers should continue to advise caution when it comes to cannabis use during pregnancy,” Prof. Matok added.

This research marks a significant step forward in understanding the complex relationship between prenatal cannabis exposure and neuropsychiatric outcomes in children. As the legal landscape surrounding cannabis continues to evolve, studies like this will be essential in guiding public health recommendations and ensuring the well-being of future generations.

Methodology: The methodology of this systematic review and meta-analysis involved analyzing 18 observational studies, with 17 included in the quantitative analysis, covering 534,445 participants. The review compared neuropsychiatric outcomes in offspring exposed to cannabis prenatally to those unexposed, focusing on conditions such as ADHD, ASD, anxiety, depression, psychotic disorders, and substance use.

The studies spanned from the 1980s to early 2000s, reflecting older cannabis potencies, and included data from multiple countries, with the literature search completed by January 2024.

The research paper titled “Prenatal cannabis exposure and the risk for neuropsychiatric anomalies in the offspring: a systematic review and meta-analysis” is now available at American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and can be accessed at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002937824006823?dgcid=author#sec4 .

Researchers:

Hely Bassalov Pharm¹, Noa Yakirevich-Amir², Inbal Reuveni³, Catherine Monk^4,5, Sharon Florentin², Omer Bonne², Ilan Matok¹

Institution:

Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
Psychiatric Division, Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY
New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY

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Hebrew University’s Prof. Michael Stone Honored with Armenia’s Medal of Gratitude

4 September, 2024

Professor Emeritus Michael Stone, Founder of the Chair of Armenian Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has been awarded the prestigious Medal of Gratitude by the President of Armenia, Vahagn Khachaturyan. The award recognizes his significant contributions to Armenian studies and his dedication to preserving Armenian cultural heritage.

Professor Emeritus Michael Edward Stone, Founder of the Chair of Armenian Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a distinguished figure in the field of Armenology, has been awarded the prestigious Medal of Gratitude by the President of Armenia, Vahagn Khachaturyan. This esteemed award recognizes Prof. Stone's significant contributions to the development of Armenian studies and his long-term dedication to preserving Armenian culture and heritage.

Prof. Stone, a member of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, has authored and edited over 60 books, including numerous translations of Armenian sources. His extensive research also delves into Armenian-Jewish relations and the historical presence of Armenians in the Land of Israel, solidifying his reputation as a preeminent scholar in Armenian studies.

The Medal of Gratitude is one of Armenia's highest state honors, awarded for exemplary achievements in state, economic, social, scientific-technical, and public activities. It is also bestowed upon individuals who have made major personal contributions and demonstrated many years of devotion to promoting the spheres of health, education, and culture.

The award ceremony took place at the President's residence, where President Khachaturyan presented the medals to several distinguished scholars in the field of Armenology, including Prof. Valentina Calzolari Bouvier of the University of Geneva and Prof. Cristina Marantzi of Harvard University, alongside Prof. Stone.

In his address, President Khachaturyan expressed profound gratitude to the awardees for their invaluable contributions to Armenian studies, particularly during a time when the preservation of Armenian historical cultural heritage is of paramount importance. President Khachaturyan further emphasized the critical role that scholars like Prof. Stone play in representing Armenian history and culture on an international stage, ensuring that the world understands and appreciates Armenia's rich heritage.

Prof. Stone's receipt of the Medal of Gratitude underscores his exceptional impact on the field of Armenian studies and his unwavering commitment to the advancement of knowledge and cultural preservation. As a co-founder and honorary president of the International Association for Armenian Studies (AIEA), Prof. Stone has left an indelible mark on the academic community and continues to inspire future generations of scholars.

The Hebrew University continues to offer Armenian and Armenian cultural studies through its Department of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies. This program provides students with the opportunity to explore the rich history, culture, and language of Armenia, fostering a deeper understanding of the Armenian experience in both historical and contemporary contexts.

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Carmel Gat Z"L

1 September, 2024

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem bows its head in mourning for Carmel Gat, a Master’s student at the School of Occupational Therapy, who was tragically murdered while in Hamas captivity. The bodies of Carmel and five other hostages were recovered by the IDF from a Hamas terror tunnel in Rafah, Gaza. We also mourn the loss of Hersh Goldberg-Polin (23), Almog Sarusi (27), Ori Danino (25), Alexander Lobanov (33) and Eden Yerushalmi (24).

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New Research Unveils Cellular Pathways to Alzheimer’s and Alternative Brain Aging

28 August, 2024

A new study has found an answer for a long-lasting question in aging research - Is Alzheimer’s disease-dementia a form of accelerated aging or is there a different path that can lead us to healthier brain aging? In an international effort, the researchers mapped 1.65 million cells from 437 aging brains, and uncovered distinct paths of cellular change in the aging brains, with one leading to Alzheimer’s disease and the other to an alternative form brain aging. They also point to specific cell signatures predicted to advance disease once they appear in the aging brain. These findings offer new insights into the disease’s development and how it is different from healthy brain aging. As these changes in brain cells may occur many years prior to the development of symptoms and memory loss, this discovery opens the door to personalized prevention medicine that could alter disease progression and improve outcomes for individuals at risk.

A new study, published in Nature, led by an international team, including Dr. Naomi Habib and Gilad Green from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Dr. Philip L. De Jager and Dr. Vilas Menon from Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Dr. David Bennett from Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center and Dr. Hyun-Sik Yang from Harvard Medical School, has uncovered crucial insights into the cellular dynamics that contribute to brain aging and the cellular events leading to the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). By creating one of the biggest resources in the brain aging field, mapping over 1.65 million cells from 437 aging brains, and developing new machine learning (AI) algorithms, the research team has revealed distinct cellular paths in brain aging, providing a foundation for personalized therapeutic development targeting Alzheimer’s disease.

Mapping Brain Aging: A Closer Look at Brain Cells

This study took an in-depth approach to map the brain’s cellular environment, analyzing a unique dataset of 1.65 million single-nucleus RNA sequencing profiles from the prefrontal cortex of 437 older adults in the ROSMAP cohort at Rush University in Chicago, IL, USA. With this large dataset, researchers were able to pinpoint specific glial and neuronal cell groups linked to traits related to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Moreover, the study zeroed in on the complex dynamics within the brain cells along the progression of aging and disease, using a new algorithm called BEYOND to model these dynamics. This approach revealed two distinct paths of brain aging, each marked by gradual coordinated changes in distinct groups of cells, which the researchers termed as “cellular communities” in the brain. Interestingly, they showed that one of these paths leads to Alzheimer’s disease, gradually leading to dementia – featured by memory loss and cognitive decline, while the other represents a healthier, non-Alzheimer’s form of brain aging. The researchers predict that these cellular changes, that start early – before any clinical signs of dementia – are actively determining the fate of the aging brain and the progression of the disease.

Important Discoveries in Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by hallmark brain pathologies, with the classical Amyloid theory of AD describing the cascade of events thought to follow the progression of the disease – starting with the accumulation of amyloid-β plaques, which then lead to accumulation of toxic neurofilament tangles, eventually leading to substantial neuronal damage and symptoms of clinical dementia. Glial cells, such as microglia and astrocytes, are supportive cells that are critical for the correct function of the brain and of neuronal cells, yet have only been recently suggested to take part in the cascade leading to Alzheimer’s disease. For example, a previous article, published in Nature Neuroscience in 2023 led by the same team with Anael Cain a PhD student in the Habib lab, laid the scientific foundation for the findings on specific cellular communities and glial cells related to Alzheimer’s disease. A key discovery from this study is the identification of specific glial cells predicted to contribute to the progression of the disease. The current study uncovered two different subsets of microglial cells, both linked to altered lipid metabolism: one was predicted by the team to drive the buildup of amyloid-β plaques, the initial hallmark pathology of Alzheimer’s disease, while the other is predicted to drive the later buildup of neurofilament tangles. The team also highlighted a group of astrocyte cells that influence directly cognitive decline, shedding more light on the complex interactions between different brain cells in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, and highlight the key role that glial cells are taking in the progression of the disease.

Impact on Personalized Treatment Development

"The insights from this research provide a fresh understanding of how Alzheimer’s disease develops, from the very early stages, which was not possible to measure without our large dataset and unique algorithmic approach", said Dr. Habib, "by identifying the specific cells involved in each unique path of brain aging, Alzheimer’s and alternative aging, we paved the way to early identification of people at risk of Alzheimer’s disease and for creating targeted treatments for each form of brain aging to promote healthy aging". The findings lay a cellular foundation for understanding the different paths leading to Alzheimer’s. This knowledge is vital for developing personalized treatments that can act at the cellular level, potentially changing the course of the disease.

The research paper titled “Cellular communities reveal trajectories of brain aging and Alzheimer’s disease” is now available at Nature and can be accessed at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07871-6

Nature. 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07871-6

Researchers:

Gilad Sahar Green¹, Masashi Fujita², Hyun-Sik Yang^3,4, Mariko Taga², Anael Cain¹, Cristin McCabe³, Natacha Comandante-Lou², Charles C. White⁴, Anna K. Schmidtner¹, Lu Zeng², Alina Sigalov², Yangling Wang⁶, Aviv Regev^3,8, Hans-Ulrich Klein², Vilas Menon², David A. Bennett⁶, Naomi Habib¹, Philip L. De Jager^2,4

Institution:

Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Center for Translational & Computational Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology and Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston
Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Klarman Cell Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center

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Uncovering the Secret Communication of Monkeys: They Have Names!

27 August, 2024

New study from Hebrew University reveals that marmoset monkeys use specific calls, known as "phee-calls," to name each other, a behavior previously known to exist only in humans, dolphins, and elephants. This discovery highlights the complexity of social communication in marmosets and suggests that their ability to vocally label each other may provide valuable insights into the evolution of human language.

In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers from Hebrew University have found that marmoset monkeys use specific vocal calls, called "phee-calls," to identify and communicate with each other. This ability to vocally label others has only been seen in humans, dolphins, and elephants until now.

Naming of others is a highly advanced cognitive ability observed in social animals and, until recently, was known to exist only in humans, dolphins, and elephants. Interestingly, our closest evolutionary relatives, nonhuman primates, appeared to lack this ability altogether.

In a new study published today in Science, a team of researchers from the Hebrew University, led by Dr. David Omer from the Safra Center for Brain Sciences (ELSC), made a groundbreaking discovery: for the first time, they found that marmoset monkeys use specific calls, called "phee-calls", to name each other.

To uncover this, the researchers, led by graduate student Guy Oren, recorded natural conversations between pairs of marmosets, as well as interactions between monkeys and a computer system. They found that these monkeys use their “phee-calls” to address specific individuals. Even more interestingly, the marmosets could discern when a call was directed at them and responded more accurately when it was.

“This discovery highlight the complexity of social communication among marmosets,” explains Omer. “These calls are not just used for self-localization, as previously thought— marmosets use these specific calls to label and address specific individuals”.

The study also revealed that family members within a marmoset group use similar vocal labels to address different individuals and employ similar sound features to code different names, resembling the use if names and dialects in humans. This learning appears to occur even among adult marmosets who are not related by blood, suggesting that they learn both vocal labels and dialect from other members of their family group.

The researchers believe that this vocal labeling may have evolved to help marmosets stay connected in their dense rainforest habitat,

where visibility is often limited. By using these calls, they can maintain their social bonds and keep the group cohesive.

“Marmosets live in small monogamous family groups and take care of their young together, much like humans do,” says Omer. “These similarities suggest that they faced comparable evolutionary social challenges to our early pre-linguistic ancestors, which might have led them to develop similar communicating methods.”

This research provide new insights into how social communication and human language might have evolved. The ability of marmosets to label each other with specific calls suggests they have developed complex brain mechanisms, potentially analogous to those that eventually gave rise to language in humans.

The study opens up exciting avenues for further research into how our own communication abilities may have evolved and what we can learn from these social nonhuman primates.

The research paper titled “Vocal Labeling of Others by Nonhuman Primates” is now available in Science and can be accessed at DOI: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adp3757

Title: Barak | Credit: David Omer Lab

Title: Baby Bareket | Credit: David Omer Lab

Funding:

European Research Council (ERC—SYG—OxytocINspace) Grant Agreement: No. 101071777, OxytocINspace

Israel Science Foundation (ISF 915/22)

Researchers:

Guy Oren¹, Avner Shapira¹, Reuben Lifshitz¹, Ehud Vinepinsky¹, Roni Cohen¹, Tomer Fried², Guy P. Hadad², David Omer¹

Institutions:

Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brains Sciences (ELSC), Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Benin School of Computer Science and Engineering, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is Israel’s premier academic and research institution. With over 23,000 students from 90 countries, it is a hub for advancing scientific knowledge and holds a significant role in Israel’s civilian scientific research output, accounting for nearly 40% of it and has registered over 11,000 patents. The university’s faculty and alumni have earned eight Nobel Prizes, two Turing Awards a Fields Medal, underscoring their contributions to ground-breaking discoveries. In the global arena, the Hebrew University ranks 81^st according to the Shanghai Ranking. To learn more about the university’s academic programs, research initiatives, and achievements, visit the official website at http://new.huji.ac.il/en

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Boosting Online Safety Through Behavioral Nudges : Delay, Remind, and Secure

27 August, 2024

New study reveals that giving internet users the choice to delay important security tasks, yet nudging them to commit to it later, makes them much more likely to complete these tasks. The study found that these nudges help people follow through without decreasing the rate at which they start the tasks right away. This offers a practical way to improve online security

In the face of rising cybersecurity threats, many internet users continue to neglect essential security actions, such as installing updates or changing compromised passwords. A new study led by Prof. Eyal Pe'er from the Federmann School of Public Policy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem reveals that offering users the option to delay these tasks, combined with commitment nudges and reminders, significantly increases the likelihood of users eventually completing these important actions.

The research, conducted through a series of online experiments funded by a NSF-BSF grant to Prof. Peer and Dr. Serge Egeleman (U.C. Berkely), focused on understanding how these “nudges” could affect users’ willingness to change a compromised password. The findings are promising: when given the option to delay the task, a considerable number of participants chose to change their password later, resulting in a higher overall compliance rate without considerably reducing the number of users who opted to change their password immediately.

The study found that participants who made a promise to change their password later or requested a reminder were much more likely to follow through on their commitment. The effect was further enhanced when participants were reminded of their previous commitment, leading to a net positive impact on cybersecurity behavior.

"Security tasks often interrupt users at inconvenient times, leading to procrastination or outright neglect," explained Prof. Pe'er. "Our research shows that by allowing users to delay these and commit to completing them later, we can significantly increase the rate at which users complete critical security actions. This approach offers a practical behavioral solution to a common problem in online security."

The implications of this study are far-reaching, offering a simple yet effective strategy to improve cybersecurity compliance among internet users. By incorporating delay options and commitment nudges into security protocols, online platforms and services can better protect their users from potential security threats.

The research paper titled ““Protect Me Tomorrow”: Commitment Nudges to Remedy Compromised Passwords” is now available at ACM Journals and can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1145/3689038.

Researchers: Eyal Pe'er¹, Alisa Frik², Conor Gilsenan³, Serge Egelman^2,3

Institution:

The Federmann School of Public Policy, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
International Computer Science Institute, Berkeley, USA
University of California, Berkeley, USA

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Elite Grave of Pre-Mongol Period Uncovered in Mongolia

21 August, 2024

A team of archaeologists led by Professors Gideon Shelach-Lavi from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Amartuvshin Chunaga from the National University of Mongolia and William Honeychurch from Yale University, has unearthed an elite grave dating back to the pre-Mongol period in Dornod Province, Mongolia. This finding, part of the Mongol-Israeli-American Archaeological Project, sheds new light on a poorly understood era on the Mongolian plateau, spanning the collapse of the Kitan Empire around 1125 CE to the rise of the Mongol Empire under Chinggis Khan in 1206 CE.

The Khar Nuur burial, as it is now known, was found within the enclosure wall of a Kitan-era frontier fortress. The grave, which likely postdates the use of the fortress, contains the remains of an older woman, suggesting she belonged to a prestigious lineage with significant political standing. This discovery provides crucial insights into the local communities, their networks, and their organization during the 12th century CE—a period marked by post-imperial destabilization and intense political competition.

Archaeological Context and Significance

The Mongol-Israeli-American Archaeological Project has been conducting surveys and excavations along Kitan frontier 'long-walls' in northeastern Mongolia since 2018. The discovery of the Khar Nuur burial is one of the most significant findings of the project, offering valuable evidence of the cultural and political shifts that occurred in the lead-up to the rise of the Mongol Empire.

Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the choice of burial location:

1. The Khar Nuur steppe nomads may have perceived the abandoned Kitan fortress as part of their own history and indigenous territory, using it to affirm local identity and social memory.

2. The fortress may have held symbolic prestige, making it a fitting site for the burial of a leading community member.

3. The burial could have been a deliberate display of power and territorial possession amid the political competition of the time.

These theories, while not mutually exclusive, offer a combined explanation for the social and political processes taking place on the eastern steppe during the post-Kitan period. As imperial authority waned and steppe groups vied for control, the Khar Nuur burial stands as a poignant symbol of identity, memory, and power in a time of transition.

Historical Implications

The discovery adds a vital piece to the puzzle of Mongolian history, providing a deeper understanding of the events and communities that shaped the region before the rise of the Mongol Empire. It offers valuable insights into how local communities maintained their networks and organization during a period of significant change and political competition.

"The Khar Nuur burial represents a unique window into the complex social and political landscape of 12th century Mongolia," added Prof. Shelach-Lavi. "It demonstrates how local elites may have used symbolic connections to past empires to legitimize their own power and status, even as they navigated a rapidly changing political environment."

This remarkable find not only enriches our understanding of pre-Mongol Empire Mongolia but also highlights the importance of continued archaeological research in uncovering the nuanced history of the region. As further analysis of the burial and its contents continues, researchers anticipate gaining even more insights into this pivotal period in Mongolian and world history.

The research paper titled “An elite grave of the pre-Mongol period, from Dornod Province, Mongolia” is now available in Archaeological Research in Asia and can be accessed at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352226724000382?via%3Dihub

Title: Excavated Burial Site

Description: Drone photo of Cluster 27 in northeastern Mongolia. A red circle marks the location of the excavated burial. The inset map shows the location of Cluster 27 in red and two other enclosure sites along the long wall (Clusters 23 and 24) in black.

Credit Dan Golan

Title: Gold Bracelet and Two Earrings

Credit: Tal Rogovsky

Researchers:

Amartuvshin Chunag^a, Gideon Shelach Lavi^b, William Honeychurch^c, Batdalai Byambatseren^a, Orit Shamir^d, Uuriintuya Munkhtur^a, Daniela Wolin^b, Shuzhi Wang^e, Nofar Shamir^f

Institutions:

^a Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

^b Department of Asian Studies, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

^c Department of Anthropology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

^d Department of Museums and Exhibits of the Israel Antiquities Authority, Jerusalem, Israel

^e Archaeological Institute, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing, China

^f Department of Archaeology, Haifa University, Israel

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is Israel’s premier academic and research institution. With over 23,000 students from 90 countries, it is a hub for advancing scientific knowledge and holds a significant role in Israel’s civilian scientific research output, accounting for nearly 40% of it and has registered over 11,000 patents. The university’s faculty and alumni have earned eight Nobel Prizes, two Turing Awards a Fields Medal, underscoring their contributions to ground-breaking discoveries. In the global arena, the Hebrew University ranks 81^st according to the Shanghai Ranking. To learn more about the university’s academic programs, research initiatives, and achievements, visit the official website at http://new.huji.ac.il/en

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Preserving Ladino: Hebrew University Hosts First-of-Its-Kind Ladino Summer School

21 August, 2024

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem has launched its first Ladino International Summer School, an intensive program designed to preserve the endangered Ladino language. The course attracted students from around the world, offering them a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in Ladino language studies and connect with the rich Sephardic Jewish heritage.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is proud to announce the successful completion of its inaugural Ladino International Summer School, an innovative academic program aimed at preserving the endangered Ladino language. This course is the first of its kind in Israel and possibly the world, offering an intensive educational experience dedicated to teaching Ladino, a language deeply rooted in the Sephardic Jewish heritage.

The two-week course brought together 28 students, with approximately half of them from Israel, and other from around the world, US, Europe and Asia. The participants, many of whom were drawn to the course by a desire to reconnect with their familial roots, engaged in daily studies focused on Ladino grammar, vocabulary, and cultural history. The immersive curriculum also included research visits to libraries with Ladino collections and guided tours of Jerusalem, where the echoes of Ladino-speaking communities still linger in the historic alleys and buildings.

Dr. Ilil Baum, a Ladino lecturer at the Hebrew University and Bar-Ilan University, highlighted the significance of the course in the context of the language’s precarious state: "Ladino is classified as a language in a serious danger of extinction. The younger generations are no longer inheriting it, and today, it is mostly a language of nostalgia, associated with family traditions, cuisine, and folklore."

The course also offered students the rare opportunity to engage in direct conversations with veteran Ladino speakers, providing them with a deeper understanding of the language's living history. This interaction not only enriched the students' linguistic skills but also connected them to a broader cultural narrative that transcends borders.

This pioneering initiative reflects the Hebrew University’s ongoing commitment to the preservation and promotion of endangered languages. The success of the Ladino Summer Course has instilled hope among its organizers and participants that the Ladino language will continue to be spoken and cherished for generations to come.

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