ISRAEL INNOVATION PROJECT

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.

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.