Latest news from Bar-Ilan University on Newswise en-us Copyright 2024 Newswise 115 31 / /images/newswise-logo-rss.gif /articles/rna-editing-plays-critical-role-in-fruit-flies-sense-of-smell-and-social-interactions/?sc=rsin /articles/rna-editing-plays-critical-role-in-fruit-flies-sense-of-smell-and-social-interactions/?sc=rsin Wed, 04 Sep 2024 14:00:00 EST In humans and fruit flies alike, rna editing prevents autoimmune responses and adjusts protein functions. However, in humans, most editing occurs in non-coding regions, with only a small fraction leading to changes in protein function. In contrast, in flies, the majority of rna editing events occur in sequences that directly produce proteins. Bar-Ilan University /articles/novel-motion-simulator-reveals-key-role-of-airflow-in-rodent-navigation/?sc=rsin /articles/novel-motion-simulator-reveals-key-role-of-airflow-in-rodent-navigation/?sc=rsin Thu, 29 Aug 2024 11:00:00 EST With the assistance of a novel motion simulator, researchers at Bar-Ilan University in Israel have discovered that rats rely on airflow to navigate their surroundings. When they move, the flow of air relative to their bodies provides crucial information, complementary to their sense of balance, to perceive their own motion in space. This might explain their agility in the dark as they scurry through pipes and tunnels, turn corners, and effortlessly travel from one location to another, all while knowing exactly where they're headed. Bar-Ilan University /articles/nanoparticles-restore-efficiency-in-exhausted-immune-cells-killing-cancer/?sc=rsin /articles/nanoparticles-restore-efficiency-in-exhausted-immune-cells-killing-cancer/?sc=rsin Mon, 19 Aug 2024 08:05:05 EST A novel study led by Prof. Mira Barda-Saad and her research team at the Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences at Bar-Ilan University has unveiled a novel method to rejuvenate natural killer (NK) cells in the fight against cancer. The study, published on the cover of The EMBO Journal, addresses a critical challenge in cancer immunotherapy -- NK cell exhaustion. Bar-Ilan University /articles/motivated-to-disagree-what-can-be-learned-about-rapid-polarization-from-the-israeli-judicial-reform/?sc=rsin /articles/motivated-to-disagree-what-can-be-learned-about-rapid-polarization-from-the-israeli-judicial-reform/?sc=rsin Thu, 04 Jul 2024 16:05:45 EST A newly-published study, conducted in the midst of last year's widespread protests in Israel, has uncovered extreme polarization in public opinion regarding the judicial reform introduced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. Bar-Ilan University /articles/how-can-ai-cope-with-changing-categories/?sc=rsin /articles/how-can-ai-cope-with-changing-categories/?sc=rsin Thu, 20 Jun 2024 07:05:58 EST Bar-Ilan University researchers have uncovered a new universal law detailing how artificial neural networks handle an increasing number of categories for identification. This law demonstrates how the identification error rate of such networks increases with the number of required recognizable objects. Bar-Ilan University /articles/living-fast-dying-young-bar-ilan-university-study-reveals-impact-of-habitat-disturbance-on-social-organization-of-arabian-babblers/?sc=rsin /articles/living-fast-dying-young-bar-ilan-university-study-reveals-impact-of-habitat-disturbance-on-social-organization-of-arabian-babblers/?sc=rsin Wed, 29 May 2024 08:05:56 EST Habitat change, fragmentation, and reduction caused by human activity are significant threats to the natural environment, leading to a decline in biodiversity and increased species extinction. Among the most vulnerable are social animals, whose intricate social structures and cooperative breeding behaviors are closely linked to their habitats. A new study led by Prof. Lee Koren, from the Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences at Bar-Ilan University, explores the profound effects of habitat disturbance on the Arabian babbler, a social bird species known for its cooperative breeding. Bar-Ilan University /articles/bar-ilan-university-researchers-develop-innovative-platform-for-modeling-human-muscle-diseases-in-worms/?sc=rsin /articles/bar-ilan-university-researchers-develop-innovative-platform-for-modeling-human-muscle-diseases-in-worms/?sc=rsin Wed, 15 May 2024 16:05:50 EST Researchers from Bar-Ilan University, in collaboration with Sheba Medical Center, have developed a novel platform to model human muscle diseases in the C. elegans worm. This innovation facilitates the study of diseases in a versatile, scalable way, opening the door to more personalized approaches to disease modeling. Bar-Ilan University /articles/in-a-first-researchers-generate-a-direct-measurement-of-the-interaction-between-immune-cells-and-cancer-cells-from-a-patient-s-biopsy/?sc=rsin /articles/in-a-first-researchers-generate-a-direct-measurement-of-the-interaction-between-immune-cells-and-cancer-cells-from-a-patient-s-biopsy/?sc=rsin Mon, 06 May 2024 04:05:50 EST Researchers at Bar-Ilan University have unveiled a technology that promises to improve cancer treatment decisions based on a patient's biopsy. Bar-Ilan University /articles/improved-ai-confidence-measure-for-autonomous-vehicles/?sc=rsin /articles/improved-ai-confidence-measure-for-autonomous-vehicles/?sc=rsin Sun, 14 Apr 2024 08:05:26 EST A new Bar-Ilan University study has achieved a milestone in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) by addressing a fundamental question: Can deep learning architectures achieve greatly above-average confidence for a significant portion of inputs while maintaining overall average confidence? Bar-Ilan University /articles/despite-dwindling-resources-many-older-adult-israelis-exhibited-impressive-resilience-during-the-initial-period-of-the-israel-hamas-war-bar-ilan-university-study-finds/?sc=rsin /articles/despite-dwindling-resources-many-older-adult-israelis-exhibited-impressive-resilience-during-the-initial-period-of-the-israel-hamas-war-bar-ilan-university-study-finds/?sc=rsin Wed, 27 Mar 2024 05:05:37 EST Following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, Bar-Ilan University Prof. Amit Shrira led a study measuring acute stress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among Israelis between November-December 2023, shedding light on the impact of the conflict on mental health across generations. Bar-Ilan University /articles/bar-ilan-university-researchers-develop-cost-effective-method-to-detect-low-concentrations-of-pharmaceutical-waste-and-contaminants-in-water/?sc=rsin /articles/bar-ilan-university-researchers-develop-cost-effective-method-to-detect-low-concentrations-of-pharmaceutical-waste-and-contaminants-in-water/?sc=rsin Thu, 21 Mar 2024 13:05:28 EST Pharmaceutical waste and contaminants present a growing global concern, particularly in the context of drinking water and food safety. Addressing this critical issue, a new study by researchers at Bar-Ilan University's Department of Chemistry and Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials has resulted in the development of a highly sensitive plasmonic-based detector, specifically targeting the detection of harmful piperidine residue in water. Bar-Ilan University /articles/nanoparticles-activated-by-ultra-low-energy-x-rays-effectively-halt-the-aggregation-and-toxicity-of-amyloid-beta-in-preclinical-models/?sc=rsin /articles/nanoparticles-activated-by-ultra-low-energy-x-rays-effectively-halt-the-aggregation-and-toxicity-of-amyloid-beta-in-preclinical-models/?sc=rsin Tue, 19 Mar 2024 03:05:57 EST A collaborative effort between Israeli and Italian researchers has led to the development of a new treatment strategy targeting the early-stage aggregation of A-beta before the formation of toxic oligomers. Bar-Ilan University /articles/exotic-molecules-embedded-into-continuum-refuse-to-break-apart-defying-initial-expectations/?sc=rsin /articles/exotic-molecules-embedded-into-continuum-refuse-to-break-apart-defying-initial-expectations/?sc=rsin Wed, 13 Mar 2024 08:05:14 EST Researchers have unveiled the extraordinary behavior of weakly-bound three-atomic molecules, defying conventional understanding of quantum mechanics. Bar-Ilan University /articles/how-does-ai-work/?sc=rsin /articles/how-does-ai-work/?sc=rsin Tue, 12 Mar 2024 10:05:44 EST In an article recently published in Scientific Reports, researchers from Bar-Ilan University reveal the mechanism underlying successful machine learning, which enables it to perform classification tasks with resounding success. Bar-Ilan University /articles/plant-seed-and-fruit-analysis-from-the-biblical-home-of-goliath-sheds-unprecedented-light-on-philistine-ritual-practices2/?sc=rsin /articles/plant-seed-and-fruit-analysis-from-the-biblical-home-of-goliath-sheds-unprecedented-light-on-philistine-ritual-practices2/?sc=rsin Mon, 26 Feb 2024 22:05:50 EST The enigmatic Philistine culture, which flourished during the Iron Age (ca. 1200-604 BCE), profoundly affected the southern Levant's cultural history, agronomy, and dietary customs. Bar-Ilan University /articles/plant-seed-and-fruit-analysis-from-the-biblical-home-of-goliath-sheds-unprecedented-light-on-philistine-ritual-practices/?sc=rsin /articles/plant-seed-and-fruit-analysis-from-the-biblical-home-of-goliath-sheds-unprecedented-light-on-philistine-ritual-practices/?sc=rsin Mon, 26 Feb 2024 02:05:25 EST While many aspects of Philistine culture are well-documented, the specifics of Philistine religious practices and deities have long remained shrouded in mystery. The study by Frumin et al. on "Plant-Related Philistine Ritual Practices at Biblical Gath," recently published in Scientific Reports by researchers at Bar-Ilan University, contributes valuable new data to our understanding of the Philistine's ritual practices. The discovery of numerous plants in two temples unearthed at the site unraveled unprecedented insights into Philistine cultic rituals and beliefs - their temple food ingredients, timing of ceremonies, and plants for temple decoration. Bar-Ilan University /articles/bar-ilan-university-researchers-produce-laboratory-testicles/?sc=rsin /articles/bar-ilan-university-researchers-produce-laboratory-testicles/?sc=rsin Mon, 19 Feb 2024 03:05:54 EST Dr. Nitzan Gonen, a Bar-Ilan University researcher specializing in the process of fetal sex determination, together with research students Aviya Stopel, Cheli Lev and Stav Dahari, has succeeded in creating "laboratory testicles" that may significantly advance understanding of the mechanisms involved in sex determination and provide solutions for male infertility, which affects one in 12 men worldwide. Bar-Ilan University /articles/goodbye-spoiled-fruits-and-vegetables-hello-fresh-produce/?sc=rsin /articles/goodbye-spoiled-fruits-and-vegetables-hello-fresh-produce/?sc=rsin Thu, 15 Feb 2024 11:05:06 EST At the Department of Chemistry at Bar-Ilan University in Israel, PhD student Belal Abu Salha developed a process of coating fruits and veggies with edible nanoparticles using sonochemistry, and extended the shelf life of strawberries by 15 days. Bar-Ilan University /articles/bar-ilan-university-study-reveals-microbiome-changes-linked-to-autism-spectrum-disorder/?sc=rsin /articles/bar-ilan-university-study-reveals-microbiome-changes-linked-to-autism-spectrum-disorder/?sc=rsin Mon, 12 Feb 2024 08:05:17 EST Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by decreased social communication and repetitive behaviors, has long intrigued scientists seeking to unravel its underlying mechanisms. Bar-Ilan University /articles/breaking-boundaries-in-quantum-photonics-groundbreaking-nanocavities-unlock-new-frontiers-in-light-confinement/?sc=rsin /articles/breaking-boundaries-in-quantum-photonics-groundbreaking-nanocavities-unlock-new-frontiers-in-light-confinement/?sc=rsin Tue, 06 Feb 2024 05:00:00 EST In a significant leap forward for quantum nanophotonics, a team of European and Israeli physicists, introduces a new type of polaritonic cavities and redefines the limits of light confinement. This pioneering work, detailed in a study published today in Nature Materials, demonstrates an unconventional method to confine photons, overcoming the traditional limitations in nanophotonics. Bar-Ilan University