Yesterday, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem marked the culmination of a decade-long tradition with the 10th and final Simon and Ethel Flegg Award Ceremony. Established to honor exceptional contributions toward fostering understanding, acceptance, and cooperation within the diverse segments of the Jewish world, this prestigious award underscores the Hebrew University’s commitment to advancing unity and dialogue.

A new study reveals that typically developing twins consistently take on the dominant role over their nontypically developing siblings, even after developmental gaps are resolved. By highlighting how parental perceptions shape these dynamics, the research offers fresh insights into the delicate balance of twin relationships and the importance of fostering equality to support both children’s growth. 

New insights highlight potential for circadian clock modulation in IBD treatment

The Hebrew University School of Business Administration is delighted to unveil an important collaboration with National Sun Yat-Sen University (NSYSU) in Taiwan. This partnership marks an exciting chapter in the global expansion of the university’s academic and research reach, aligning with Taiwan’s strategic initiatives to foster international collaboration through new programs. 

Jerusalem, December 11, 2024 – Today, Hebrew University of Jerusalem was honored to welcome His Excellency Mr. Santiago Peña, President of the Republic of Paraguay, on an official visit to the university. This visit underscores the growing academic and diplomatic ties between Israel and Paraguay.

Researchers have developed a tiny, room-temperature device that creates a special type of structured light called radially polarized photons, which are highly useful for secure communication, advanced imaging, and precision optical tools. By carefully designing and positioning a quantum dot within a nanoantenna, they achieved high-quality light with over 93% polarization purity. This breakthrough helps improve the efficiency and practicality of devices that use structured light, paving the way for advancements in communication and optical technology.

A new study reveals how repeated fasting enhances the liver’s ability to adapt through a cellular memory mechanism. The research shows that alternate-day fasting “sensitizes” key genes and liver enhancers, boosting ketogenesis during subsequent fasting bouts. This process, driven by the transcription factor PPARα, highlights how the body adjusts to recurring nutritional challenges. These findings provide fresh insights into the metabolic benefits of fasting and its potential applications in health and dietary science.

Researchers at the Hebrew University enhanced the Elixhauser Comorbidity Model, improving predictions for length of hospital stay, mortality, readmission, and escalated care. The study outperformed the standard Elixhauser model, offering a comprehensive view of patient complexity. These findings benefit healthcare decisions and patient outcomes, with broad implications for the field.

New research has revealed that fish embryos actively control their hatching timing through a neurohormone, Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone (TRH), which triggers the release of enzymes that dissolve the egg wall. This groundbreaking discovery uncovers a previously unknown neural mechanism that governs a critical life-stage transition, showing that embryos are not passive but instead actively make life-or-death decisions. The finding has significant evolutionary implications, offering new insights into neurobiology, survival strategies, and environmental adaptation in vertebrates.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is proud to announce that two of its outstanding researchers have been selected to join the EMBO Young Investigator Programme, a prestigious initiative recognizing exceptional early-career group leaders in life sciences across Europe and beyond.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem proudly congratulates two of its esteemed researchers for receiving prestigious European Research Council (ERC) grants. These grants, each valued at approximately 2 million euros, are awarded to researchers leading innovative projects and join a long tradition of Hebrew University scholars who have been recognized with this honor in previous years.

The recipients from Hebrew University are:

 A new study reveals an often-overlooked process in language learning: children frequently begin by grasping whole phrases and only later identify the individual components within them. This “whole-to-part” approach suggests that children have an inherent bias toward holistic learning, challenging the traditional view that language is usually acquired by assembling smaller parts into larger structures. The findings shed light on the flexibility and resilience of language acquisition across diverse contexts, including situations where formal language input is limited.