American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science

06/10/2026

A new frontier in the search for life beyond Earth. 🌌

Scientists at the Weizmann Institute have developed a simple yet powerful way to detect traces of alien biology — by analyzing patterns in amino acids.

From Martian rocks to icy moons like Europa, this breakthrough could help answer one of humanity’s biggest questions: Are we alone?

🔬 Learn how Weizmann scientists are redefining the search for alien life:

REHOVOT, ISRAEL — June 10, 2026 — Before any wrinkled, wide-eyed creature from a distant civilization asks to be taken home, the first success in the search for life beyond Earth might be more prosaic. A clue could emerge from a handful of molecules in a Martian rock, a grain of ice from a moo...

06/04/2026

Science that shapes the world 🌍🔬

From global research impact to groundbreaking discoveries, the Weizmann Institute of Science continues to lead at the highest level:

✨ A Nature’s 10 scientist among faculty
✨ Over 1,000 international collaborative studies
✨ Exceptional ERC funding success
✨ Top ranked worldwide for research quality
✨ 126 new patents advancing science

These achievements reflect a commitment to bold discoveries that advance science for the future of humanity.

06/02/2026

What if we could predict the next pandemic before it spreads?

Scientists at the Weizmann Institute of Science, together with partners in Prague, have recreated the evolution of COVID-19 in a lab — compressing years into just months. By simulating how the virus mutates and adapts, they uncovered the conditions that led to highly contagious variants like Omicron.

This breakthrough could help researchers anticipate dangerous mutations before they emerge — giving the world a critical head start in preparing for future pandemics.

Science for the future of humanity. 🔬🌍

Read more: https://bit.ly/4aq1JIS

REHOVOT, ISRAEL — June 1, 2026 — A key step in the origin of many pandemics occurs when an animal-borne virus infects humans and then evolves to spread more efficiently from person to person. That is why scientists and physicians keep a close watch on viruses that could jump from animals to hum...

05/27/2026

“The memory cells turned out to be a targeted weapon against ovarian cancer.”

What if your immune system could remember cancer — and fight it?

Researchers at the Weizmann Institute have discovered that certain immune cells can recognize tumors and rapidly produce cancer-fighting antibodies. Even more exciting: this could pave the way for vaccines that don’t just treat cancer but help prevent it from coming back.

A powerful step toward turning the body’s own defenses into long-term protection. 🧬✨

Read more: https://bit.ly/3RywCV5

REHOVOT, ISRAEL — May 26, 2026 — While we tend to quickly forget having been ill or having received a vaccine, the immune system remembers remarkably well. It has memory B cells – “trained” immune cells that circulate throughout the body in search of harmful invaders they have encountere...

05/20/2026

What if mirror images weren’t truly identical?

Weizmann Institute of Science researchers have discovered that “left-” and “right-handed” molecules behave differently when electrons move through them — helping to explain why life consistently favors one form over another.

“Our breakthrough was realizing that the difference between these two seemingly identical forms only emerges in motion,” says Prof. Yossi Paltiel.

Beyond explaining life’s origins, this discovery could lead to safer, more effective drugs, fertilizers and pesticides by ensuring only the correct molecular form is used. 🔬

Read more https://bit.ly/4uTxa6e

REHOVOT, ISRAEL — May 19, 2026 — Imagine looking at yourself in the mirror, only to find that your reflection is governed by different laws than you are: Identical movements produce different outcomes, and what seems like a perfect copy behaves in an entirely different way. It may sound absurd...

05/14/2026

Gut stem cells are smarter than we thought. 🧬✨

New findings from the Weizmann Institute of Science reveal that intestinal stem cells can sense bacteria, shut down their own growth, and fight back — without relying on the immune system. This natural defense may play a role in gut diseases like Crohn’s.

Led by Dr. Sacha Lebon in Dr. Moshe Biton’s lab, the research offers hope for future treatments for inflammatory diseases and cancer.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4fkXOQP

REHOVOT, ISRAEL — May 12, 2026 — We all begin life as a collection of embryonic stem cells that have a remarkable ability to mature into any cell type in the body. Even in adulthood, our bodies harbor small populations of adult stem cells that can develop into various mature cell types and rege...

05/12/2026

Prostate cancer doesn’t always play by the rules.

New research from the Weizmann Institute of Science shows that many tumors can bypass hormone therapy by tapping into the body’s stress hormone system. The good news? Blocking that escape route — alongside standard treatment — slowed cancer growth in lab studies.

🔗 Learn more about this research: https://bit.ly/3PlyBeH

REHOVOT, ISRAEL — May 12, 2026 — Most prostate cancers rely on male s*x hormones, known as androgens, to grow. As a result, standard treatment focuses on lowering androgen levels or blocking their activity, but many tumors eventually become resistant and the disease returns.In a study publ...

05/06/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Weizmann’s Dr. Sergey N. Semenov! 🎉

Dr. Semenov, a chemist at the Weizmann Institute of Science, has been named a 2026 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in Israel Laureate in the Chemical Sciences — one of Israel’s most prestigious honors for early career scientists.

His research explores how simple chemicals can be “programmed” to create complex, life‑like behavior. As he puts it, “It’s a way to reverse engineer life itself.”

This recognition shines a light on the global impact of Weizmann’s curiosity‑driven research.

👉 Read the full story: https://bit.ly/4tNKTLK

05/01/2026

🌳 Arbor Day may have been last week, but on the Weizmann campus, every day is Arbor Day. 🌿

Beneath a canopy of towering cypress, fast‑growing fern trees, stately date palms, and blooming jacarandas, scientific discovery unfolds within a living landscape of more than 7,000 trees shaped by resilience, adaptation, and natural beauty.

04/29/2026

Untangling a knot can take forever. 🪢

Your cells do it in milliseconds.

Weizmann scientists discovered that tiny molecular machines guide misfolded proteins like a revolving door — fast, efficient, and precise.

When this system fails, it’s linked to diseases like cancer and neurodegeneration. Understanding how it works helps scientists see what goes wrong — and how to fix it.

🔗 Read more:

REHOVOT, ISRAEL — April 29, 2026 — Trying to untangle a knot in a mess of strings can be frustrating and time-consuming. But not so for molecular machines – molecules that convert chemical energy into mechanical work and motion. Machines from the AAA+ family, which exist in the cells of all l...