ISRAEL INNOVATION PROJECT

A new Red Book for Butterflies, compiled by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority in collaboration with KKL-JNF, Tel Aviv University, and the Butterfly Enthusiasts Association, reports a sharp decline in butterfly populations across Israel. The report finds that many of the country’s 156 butterfly species are now endangered or extinct due to habitat loss, pesticides, invasive species, and climate change. Researchers warn that butterfly declines are a key indicator of wider ecosystem damage and call for stronger conservation measures.

Israeli-founded cybersecurity startup Upwind Security has raised $250 million in a funding round that values the company at $1.5 billion. The company focuses on identifying and managing hidden security risks across enterprise attack surfaces, and the new investment will support product development and global expansion. The funding milestone reflects strong investor confidence in Israel’s role in advanced cyber and security technology.

Researchers and engineers from Boeing and the Technion are collaborating to develop new clean aviation fuel technologies aimed at reducing carbon emissions from aircraft. The partnership combines Boeing’s aerospace expertise with the Technion’s research in sustainable energy and chemical engineering. The work could help cut the aviation industry’s carbon footprint by making low-emission fuels more practical for commercial use.

New research from the Weizmann Institute of Science suggests that Jupiter is slightly smaller and less massive than earlier estimates suggested. The team reexamined spacecraft data and refined measurements of the planet’s size and internal structure. The results improve models of how Jupiter formed and offer broader insight into the evolution of giant planets in our solar system and beyond.

A new Israeli study by researchers from the University of Haifa and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev found that sexual and gender minority adults report significantly higher levels of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation than heterosexual participants. Based on an online survey of 465 adults conducted between 2022 and 2023, the study also found lower overall well-being, greater difficulties with emotion regulation, and a more central role of depression in the mental-health network of sexual minorities. The researchers stressed the need for more representative data and targeted mental-health interventions for these populations.

Professor Rachela Popovtzer of Bar-Ilan University has received her third European Research Council (ERC) grant. The grant supports GOLDEN-RT, a nanotechnology-based platform designed to improve the precision and effectiveness of systemic radiotherapy for cancer, including microscopic metastases. The research builds on earlier ERC-funded studies that developed gold nanoparticle systems for targeted drug delivery and gene therapy, expanding their application to cancer treatment and CRISPR delivery to the brain.

From NBC News - A study led by researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science found that genetics’ role in how long people live may be as high as 55%, which is much higher than previously studied. The researchers arrived at this very different figure by separating deaths from external factors and those caused by internal biological factors. The result offers new directions for research into aging and the biological mechanisms that regulate lifespan.

Researchers at Tel Aviv University found that a common sea urchin species is now functionally extinct in parts of the Mediterranean due to environmental changes including warming waters and overfishing of its predators. The decline of this urchin disrupts local reef ecosystems because it plays a key role in controlling algae and supporting biodiversity. The findings highlight how human-linked environmental pressures can ripple through marine food webs and alter ecosystem balance.

Bar-Ilan University announced that Professor Shulamit Michaeli has been awarded the 2025–2026 Israel Prize in Life Sciences for her pioneering contributions to RNA research. The work revealed key RNA-based mechanisms that allow parasites to survive and adapt, reshaping how scientists think about gene regulation beyond DNA. These insights open new possibilities for targeting parasitic diseases and for broader applications in molecular and RNA biology.

Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev found that people’s justifications for memories remain consistent over time, even when the memories themselves change. In experiments, participants continued to defend the accuracy of altered recollections rather than updating their explanations. The findings shed light on how memory and reasoning interact and may help explain why people confidently hold inaccurate recollections.

A study conducted by researchers from Tel Aviv University, the Technion, and Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Hospital have provided the first evidence that the brain can actively influence how well a vaccine works through a measurable, specific neural mechanism. The study suggests that activating the brain’s reward system before vaccination can enhance antibody production. The study also highlights substantial individual differences in the extent to which reward-system activation influenced immune responses. Beyond vaccination, the findings may have implications for other areas of medicine, including cancer treatment and chronic illness.

Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science found that rats use complex neural processing to prevent their own whiskers from triggering false touch sensations. Their experiments showed that the brain filters out self-generated whisker movement signals so the animal can accurately sense external contacts. The results provide new insight into how sensory systems distinguish between self-produced and outside stimuli, with implications for understanding perception and neural computation.

Researchers at Tel Aviv University found that coral reefs influence the daily rhythms of microbial communities by pulsating oxygen levels through their photosynthesis and respiration cycles. The study shows that these regular chemical changes help structure when different microbes grow and interact in reef waters. The findings provide new insight into how coral reef activity helps shape the surrounding ecosystem’s microscopic dynamics.

Researchers at Tel Aviv University uncovered a previously unknown mechanism that allows skin cancer cells to evade the immune system and continue spreading. The study shows how changes in cancer cell behavior help tumors avoid immune attacks, contributing to melanoma progression. The findings could guide new strategies to improve immune-based treatments for skin cancer.

Israeli cybersecurity startup Wiz saw its valuation triple to $9 billion within a year amid rapid growth in demand for AI-driven security solutions. The company’s expanded market reach and investment support reflect the increasing global need for advanced tools to protect cloud and enterprise systems. The surge highlights Israel’s growing role in the global cybersecurity and AI security sectors.

Researchers at Ben-Gurion University found that genetic risk for ADHD is largely determined at birth and remains stable throughout life. Their study showed that inherited genetic factors explain most of the variation in ADHD risk, while environmental influences played a smaller role than previously thought. The findings could help refine early screening and intervention strategies for individuals at high risk.

Researchers at Tel Aviv University found that people’s sense of certainty about what they know can shape how they update beliefs and make decisions. In experiments, the team showed that when participants felt more confident in their prior knowledge, they were less likely to revise incorrect beliefs even in the face of new evidence. The findings add insight into how confidence and cognition interact, which could have implications for education, decision-making, and belief formation.

Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science found that tiny particles produced in space may play a role in how memories form in the brain. Their study suggests that these particles interact with neural processes involved in memory consolidation, linking cosmic phenomena and biological function in a surprising way. The findings open new questions about how environmental factors beyond Earth might influence brain activity.

Researchers at Tel Aviv University found that the human brain begins interpreting facial expressions before we consciously decide how we feel. Using behavioral tests and brain recordings, they showed that neural responses to faces occur rapidly and shape later emotional judgments. The findings offer new insight into how perception and emotion interact, which could inform understanding of social cognition and disorders that affect face processing.

Researchers at Ben-Gurion University developed light-activated “smart plastics” that can change their chemical properties when exposed to specific wavelengths. These materials respond to light by altering their shape, stiffness, or function, offering potential for adaptive coatings, reusable materials, and advanced manufacturing. The work may lead to new applications in responsive materials and environmentally friendly technologies.

Researchers from Tel Aviv University’s Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences uncovered a biological mechanism that enables breast cancer cells to spread to the brain, one of the deadliest forms of metastasis. They found that the loss of a region on chromosome 17, including the gene p53, helps cancer cells adapt to the brain’s environment and grow there. This insight could help doctors identify patients at high risk of brain metastases earlier and guide more tailored monitoring and treatment.

Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have advanced an AI-driven virtual cell staining technique that can identify cellular structures without traditional chemical dyes. The method uses deep learning to reconstruct stained cell images from unstained microscopy data, reducing the time, cost, and potential toxicity of standard staining procedures. This approach may streamline laboratory workflows and enhance imaging for research and clinical diagnostics.

Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev are leading a new project to examine how sleep disturbances affect autistic individuals’ health and daily functioning. The study will investigate links between disrupted sleep patterns and cognitive, emotional, and behavioral outcomes in people on the autism spectrum. By improving understanding of these connections, the research aims to inform better support and interventions for sleep-related challenges in autism.

Scientists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the University of Haifa, and the Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences in Eilat found that coral reefs strongly influence the daily rhythms of microbial life in nearby waters. The study shows that reefs shape when different microbes grow and interact, helping regulate local marine ecosystems. Changes in the daily patterns of reefs could indicate early warning signs of stress caused by pollution, warming oceans, or coral bleaching.