Cancer treatment can take a profound financial toll, and new research shows the damage does not stop at the bank account. Nearly half of patients experience significant “financial toxicity,” and that strain quietly chips away at hope and social support, two pillars that sustain people through illness. As those erode, overall satisfaction with life declines. The findings suggest that addressing the cost of care is not only a financial issue but a psychological one, and that protecting patients’ hope and sense of connection may be just as critical as covering their bills.

A new study has determined that the archaeological site of ‘Ubeidiya in the Jordan Valley dates back at least 1.9 million years, pushing back evidence of early human presence in the region by hundreds of thousands of years and positioning the ‘Ubeidiya site, together with Dmanisi, Georgia, the oldest evidence of early humans outside of Africa. The discovery revises a critical moment in human evolution, indicating that ancient pioneers, equipped with a diverse array of stone tools, were established in the Levant at the dawn of our species’ global expansion.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is proud to announce the establishment of the Sally Einstein Brain Research Program, made possible by a 1 Million NIS grant (USD $300,930) from the Sim Einstein Research Foundation, Inc.

Six researchers from the Hebrew University have been awarded research grants from the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology. Each will receive a grant of 500,000 NIS to support research in the fields of medical sciences, mental health, medical imaging, neuroscience, and food science. The grants are awarded through the Office of the Chief Scientist, with the aim of promoting research innovation, scientific excellence, and developments with the potential for clinical and public impact.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is proud to announce that Professor Jeffrey S. Rosenschein, from the Rachel and Selim Benin School of Computer Science and Engineering, has been awarded the 2026 IFAAMAS Influential Paper Award. This prestigious international honor recognizes publications in the field of autonomous agents and multi-agent systems that have made enduring and transformative contributions to the landscape of Artificial Intelligence

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is proud to congratulate Prof. Benjamin Weiss of the Einstein Institute for Mathematics on being awarded the Israel Prize in the field of mathematics, computer science, and computer engineering research.

Researchers built a living biosensor made of bacteria that lights up when it detects acetic acid, the main chemical signal that wine is starting to spoil. It works in real time, even in high-alcohol conditions, so wineries can catch problems early, before flavor and quality are damaged. The approach could offer a simpler, lower-cost alternative to lab testing and strengthen quality control across fermentation-based industries

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is pleased to announce that Professor Noam Nisan, of the Rachel and Selim Benin School of Computer Science and Engineering, has been named a 2025 Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). Professor Nisan is one of 71 new Fellows recognized this year for achieving significant results through technical innovation and service to the computing community. We extend our sincere congratulations to Professor Nisan on this professional milestone, which reflects his long-standing dedication to the advancement of theoretical computer science.

New study shows that in women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, their breast cells already carry a clear pattern of DNA “damage spots” long before any tumor appears. These weak points tend to sit on important cancer-related genes and look very similar to what is later seen in actual breast cancer. In the future this could help doctors detect cancer much earlier and maybe even stop it before it starts.