Congratulations to ViVac Pharma, winner of the 2026 Asper Prize for “The Hebrew University Rising Startup”! 🎉
Founded by @HebrewU researchers, ViVac Pharma is advancing RNA-based immunotherapies designed to help the immune system recognize and fight cancer.
A well-deserved recognition for innovation emerging from the Hebrew University community.
A historic milestone for the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
American philanthropist John Paulson has made a landmark $250M gift — the largest in HU’s history — to advance engineering, medicine, biomedical research, and trauma research.
We are deeply grateful for this extraordinary commitment to HU’s future.
A Historic Quarter-Billion-Dollar Gift to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem!
We are proud and delighted to announce the largest donation in the history of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem: a landmark gift of a quarter of a billion dollars (US$250 million) from American philanthropist and investor John Paulson, announced this evening at the University's Board of Governors Gala in Jerusalem.
This extraordinary gift will enable the University to expand its research and teaching activities in fields of national and international importance, strengthening its contributions to science, medicine, and Israeli society.
The gift will focus on three key areas:
- Establishing a new Faculty of Engineering, strengthening interdisciplinary connections between engineering, computer science, medicine, and the life sciences.
- Advancing medical and biomedical research and education, including the development of innovative AI-powered medical training models.
- Promoting research, rehabilitation, and treatment in trauma and post-traumatic stress, while strengthening the connection between academic expertise and the urgent needs of society.
In recognition of the Paulson family's longstanding generosity and commitment to the University, its historic Mount Scopus campus will be named "The Alina and John Paulson Campus, Mount Scopus, Jerusalem."
John Paulson, Founder and Chairman of the Paulson Family Foundation, stated: "Hebrew University is also among the most academically productive institutions in the world. Given its quality and productivity, I can think of no more deserving university for philanthropic support than Hebrew University."
Professor Tamir Sheafer, President of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, reflected on the significance of the gift:
"This gift enhances our ability to recruit world-class faculty, support outstanding students, equip laboratories with cutting-edge technology, and transform bold ideas into life-changing breakthroughs. This is far more than a historic act of philanthropy — it is a profound expression of confidence in Israel's human capital and a partnership in building our shared future."
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to John Paulson and his family for their trust, generosity, and longstanding partnership.
This historic gift marks a significant milestone as the Hebrew University enters its second century, empowering us to continue advancing groundbreaking research, educating future generations, and shaping the future of society in Israel and around the world.
A hidden daily rhythm in tomato plants could help scientists develop crops that produce more while using less water. 🍅🌱
New Hebrew University research reveals a morning “golden hour” that may help identify crops better equipped for drought.
Read the press release: bit.ly/4h40JwN
Israel’s future depends not only on how we respond to today’s challenges, but on what we build for tomorrow.
In an opinion piece by the @Jerusalem_Post, @HebrewU's Yishai Fraenkel makes the case for continued investment in education, research, and innovation.
Read the full opinion: bit.ly/4xLTvEz
What causes the mysterious black lesions that can form on cats’ eyes? 🐈👁️
New research from @HebrewU has identified iron and bromine in affected corneal tissue—offering new clues into a condition that has puzzled veterinarians for years.
🔗 Read more: bit.ly/4wUwfDb
What can help protect mental health during times of crisis?
New Hebrew University research points to three key factors: a stronger sense of purpose, less time on social media, and reduced exposure to harmful online content.
The findings suggest these habits may help lower vulnerability to addiction, anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
🔗 Read the press release: bit.ly/4gyQrEu
Do birds learn like babies? 🐦
A new international study co-led by @HebrewU’s Prof. Inbal Arnon finds that Bengalese finches use statistical patterns in their songs similar to those that help human infants learn language.
The finding suggests some building blocks of language may emerge wherever communication is learned and passed on.
Read the full press release on the AFHU website: bit.ly/4gcEqG3
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem has once again been named one of the world’s top 100 universities! 🎓🌍
HU ranks #89 globally in the 2026 Shanghai Ranking—and remains Israel’s highest-ranked university offering undergraduate degrees.
Congratulations to the entire HU community! 👏
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem has been ranked 89th in the world in the 2026 @ShanghaiRanking.
This recognition places the Hebrew University of Jerusalem among the world's leading academic institutions and reflects far more than a number.
It reflects a story that began over a century ago with the vision of Albert Einstein and other great minds - and continues today through a university committed to excellence in research, teaching, innovation, and global academic collaboration.
Behind this achievement is an entire community: researchers, faculty members, students, administrative teams, alumni, and partners who help make the Hebrew University of Jerusalem a home for people who ask bold questions, challenge conventions, and turn knowledge into impact.
For over 100 years, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has helped shape science, society, culture, and public life - in Israel and around the world.
We are proud to celebrate this achievement, and even prouder of the people behind it.
#HigherEducation #Research #ShanghaiRanking
The brain may play a surprising role in protecting fertility from heat stress. 🧠
New @HebrewU research reveals a previously unknown signaling pathway between neurons and reproductive cells that helps preserve fertility under high temperatures.
Read more: bit.ly/4g04QL4
Israeli and Palestinian researchers are working together to build a more climate-resilient future. 🌾
Led by @HebrewU's Prof. Zvi Peleg and Prof. Ziad Abdeen of the Al-Quds Public Health Society, the five-year project developed “Ufuq,” a wheat line designed to withstand extreme heat and drought.
Congratulations to Prof. @HSompolinsky!
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem proudly congratulates Prof. @HSompolinsky on being awarded the prestigious 2026 Dirac Medal and Prize by the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP). Established in honor of Nobel laureate Paul A.M. Dirac, the medal is among the world's most distinguished awards in theoretical physics.
Prof. Sompolinsky holds joint appointments as Professor Emeritus at the Hebrew University's Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences (@ELSCbrain) and Racah Institute of Physics, as well as Professor at Harvard University. The ICTP awarded the medal for his pioneering contributions to statistical mechanics and for extending its methods into optimization, theoretical neuroscience, and artificial intelligence. By applying statistical physics to neural network theory, his groundbreaking work helped establish theoretical neuroscience, illuminating how collective neuronal dynamics support memory, learning, and computation in both biological brains and machines.
#TheoreticalPhysics #Neuroscience #DiracMedal
What causes growing surfaces to suddenly wrinkle instead of staying smooth?
Researchers at @HebrewU uncovered a previously unknown geometric principle that helps explain how complex shapes form in nature—and could inspire advances in soft robotics, medical devices, and more.
#HebrewUniversity #Research #Innovation
Congratulations to the 129 Hebrew University researchers whose work has been recognized with Israel Science Foundation grants.
By supporting pioneering research across disciplines, these awards help advance discoveries that benefit Israel and communities around the world.
Congratulations to the 129 researchers at the Hebrew University who have been awarded Israel Science Foundation (ISF) grants, supporting pioneering research selected through scientific excellence and rigorous peer review.
Our researchers received funding across four major fields: life sciences and medicine, experimental sciences and technology, social sciences, and the humanities. This achievement reflects the depth, breadth, and excellence of research at the Hebrew University.
We are incredibly proud of each and every one of you. We look forward to seeing your research push the boundaries of knowledge, drive scientific breakthroughs, and make a meaningful impact on society, medicine, and our shared future.
🥛🌱 Could milk one day grow on plants?
Researchers at @HebrewU engineered plants to produce β-casein, a key milk protein, marking an exciting step toward sustainable, animal-free dairy production.
Read more: bit.ly/4b6SrC9
#FoodTech #Sustainability #HebrewUniversity
🚗 Every drive leaves behind more than tire tracks.
New research from @HebrewU reveals that particles from worn car tires can release chemicals into agricultural soils, where they may be absorbed by food crops. 🌱
Read more: bit.ly/3RGAROK
A sea anemone has revealed a surprising new way animals fight viruses.
Researchers from the @HebrewU and UNC Charlotte discovered a previously unknown antiviral defense mechanism that challenges long-held assumptions about how immune systems evolved. Published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, the study suggests that evolution developed multiple molecular strategies to combat viral infections.
🔬 The findings could reshape our understanding of immunity across the animal kingdom.
Read the press release: bit.ly/3RKGNpX
#HebrewU #Research #Immunology #Evolution #ScienceNews
Can climate litigation succeed by asking a different legal question?
New research from @HujiLawOfficial proposes an innovative framework that shifts the focus from proving climate damages to examining whether fossil fuel companies should retain profits allegedly earned through misleading the public and policymakers about climate science.
📖 Read more: bit.ly/4hhpMxS
#ClimateChange #ClimateLitigation #Law #ClimateAccountability #HebrewUniversity
What if human cells could be programmed like computers?
Researchers at @HebrewU have developed a new method that enables human cells to process information, perform calculations, and make autonomous decisions—opening the door to smarter, more precise treatments for diseases like cancer.
The breakthrough could one day allow therapeutic cells to detect specific disease signals and respond automatically, much like software running a biological program.
Read more about the research: bit.ly/3R6cTfD
#HebrewUniversity #MedicalResearch #Innovation
What helped prehistoric communities survive periods of dramatic environmental change?
New research from @HebrewU suggests the answer wasn't just adaptation—it was connection.
A study of hunter-gatherers in the Southern Caucasus found that people maintained extensive social networks, shared knowledge across vast distances, and traveled up to 200 km to stay connected.
The findings offer a new perspective on resilience and human survival.
Read the press release: bit.ly/3Rafsx3
#HebrewUniversity #Archaeology #HumanHistory #Research
Think negative information always grabs your attention?
New research from @HebrewU found that when people are focused on another task, they are actually less likely to consciously notice negative spoken words than neutral ones.
The findings challenge long-held assumptions about how emotional information reaches awareness and reveal that the brain may filter out emotionally costly information before we even realize it.
Read more: bit.ly/4gu4ddd
#HebrewUniversity #Psychology #Neuroscience #Research




















