The Hebrew University of Jerusalem illuminated the iconic Chords Bridge (Gesher HaMeitarim) at the entrance to the city with the university’s emblem, in celebration of its 100th anniversary and to mark the start of the new academic year today Sunday, October 19.

Approximately 23,000 students began their studies this year at Israel’s leading academic institution, founded by some of the greatest minds of the 20th century, including Albert Einstein, Martin Buber, and Sigmund Freud.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem extends its warmest congratulations to Professor Joel Mokyr on being awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics. Professor Mokyr is a distinguished alumnus of the Hebrew University, where he earned his bachelor's degree with honors in Economics and History.

A new experiment called QROCODILE, led by the University of Zurich and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has achieved record sensitivity in the hunt for light dark matter. Using superconducting detectors cooled to near absolute zero, the team set world-leading limits on how dark matter interacts with ordinary matter opening the door to future breakthroughs in one of physics’ greatest mysteries

Two years after October 7, its psychological impact continues to surface in unexpected ways. A new study at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem reveals that Israeli men with difficulties regulating their emotions were more likely to develop gambling problems in the months following the attacks and ensuing war. The findings highlight how collective trauma reverberates not only in memory, but also in private struggles for coping and survival.

Bacteria aren’t just mindless microbes. New research from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem reveals that single bacterial cells can carry a “memory” of their past environments—passing it down through generations—before eventually forgetting. Using a new technique called Microcolony-seq, scientists uncovered hidden subpopulations inside infections, each with different survival strategies. The finding could explain why antibiotics and vaccines sometimes fail—and may point the way toward more precise treatments.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem proudly congratulates two of its outstanding researchers on receiving the prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grants for 2025. The grants valued between €1.5-1.7 million, supports promising early-career researchers in launching independent projects that push the frontiers of scientific knowledge. The new recipients join a long list of Hebrew University researchers who have received these prestigious grants in recent years.

Researchers have discovered that a virus living inside the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus significantly boosts the fungus’s ability to survive stress and cause severe infections in mammals. Removing the virus made the fungus weaker and less virulent, while antiviral treatments improved survival outcomes. This finding reveals a hidden factor driving the deadliness of fungal infections and opens the door to potential new treatments that target the virus rather than the fungus itself.

A new study analyzing spontaneous speech in 48 languages reveals that human beings across the globe structure their speech into rhythmic units at a remarkably consistent rate of one every 1.6 seconds. This low-frequency rhythm is stable across cultures, ages, and languages, suggesting a universal cognitive mechanism of human communication. The findings shed new light on how the human mind structures language in time. This may have implications for neuroscience, language learning, and speech technology.

A new cross-national study reveals that older adults with disabilities are significantly less likely to receive preventive care, such as flu vaccinations, eye exams, and dental checkups. This gap remains the same for eye exams and dental care but is eliminated for flu vaccinations in countries that invest more in public healthcare.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is pleased to announce the election of Prof. Oron Shagrir as its next Rector, following a vote by the University Senate.

Prof. Shagrir currently serves as the Vice-President for International Affairs. He previously held key academic and administrative roles, including Head of the Department of Cognitive Sciences and Vice Rector.