Evolution and nature

A cat walks around the Jerusalem market of Beit Rishon. Image prepared by DALEE

The Cat Chapter 2 Early Appearances: The Missing Cat in Pre-Sage Jewish Sources

We will search in vain for the word "cat" in the Bible. Not so in the Tanakh and Talmudic literature, and certainly in the Midrashic literature.
Thought for a couple of seconds Honeybees chew on the new food product, which meets all their nutritional needs. Credit: APIX Biosciences.

Developing artificial food for bee colonies

Man-made nutritional mix improves bee colony health and could reduce colony collapse in commercial pollinators
Garden peas. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Even after 160 years: Mendel's peas are still changing science

Comprehensive genomic map reveals unprecedented genetic diversity in the global pea collection and paves the way for genetic improvements of the legume
"The Fish Matrix." Christian Ziegler, Mate Nagy, and Liang Li

At virtual reality school, fish teach robots

Scientists use VR on zebrafish to teach robots how to group
Large clam shell insect (Oncopeltus fasciatus). Credit: Louise Wudrich

Why are insects disappearing?

International study reveals more than 500 combined factors causing global decline in insect populations and suggests not just focusing on bees and butterflies
A swarm of locusts on a green tree branch. Illustration: depositphotos.com

How does a swarm of locusts decide where to turn and move forward?

New Israeli research reveals the secrets behind the swarm and shows it is not just an agricultural disaster but also a biological wonder
Tupac, a young male bonobo scratching his head. Credit: Lucas Bierhoff, Bonobo Research Project at Kokulofori.

Bonobo speaks in sentences: New study challenges the uniqueness of human language

Joint research from the University of Zurich and Harvard reveals that bonobos use meaningful vocal combinations, suggesting deep evolutionary roots for language
One of the oldest rock deposits is found in the Jack Hills in Western Australia, and it contains crystals of the mineral zircon. A researcher holds a rock from the Jack Hills | Curtin University

The oldest lake in the world

Did freshwater, and life on Earth, begin earlier than we thought?
On the right - the desert Arabian Peninsula as it appears today. On the left - green, as it appeared 8 million years ago. Illustration: Avi Blizovsky via DALEE. This illustration should not be considered a scientific image.

8 million years ago, the Arabian Peninsula was green: Fossils and caves change the history of human migration

8 million years ago, the Arabian Peninsula was green: Fossils and caves change the history of human migration
Figure: Morphological variation in the semicircular canals of the ear in Neanderthals. Credit: Alessandro Urciuoli, Institut Català de Paleop

Neanderthals experienced a catastrophic population collapse 110,000 years ago

New study reveals sharp decline in Neanderthal genetic and morphological diversity in evolutionary bottleneck
The cat is associated with ancient Egyptian culture. Illustration: depositphotos.com

The Cat in Israel's Sources 1: Going Back in Time

From the prehistoric cat to the domestic cat – this is how the nocturnal creature became a constant companion of man, a sacred animal in Egypt, identified with demons and symbols in the Passover Haggadah, and mysterious even in the eyes of the Talmudic sages.
Prof. Avraham Hefetz. Photo: Tel Aviv University Spokesperson

Podcast: Who are the first honey pirates in history?

Tel Aviv 360 Podcast: The first to discover the method were the bears and badgers, which Prof. Avraham Hefetz calls the first honey robbers. Humans discovered the method and developed the agricultural industry for raising honey bees.
Radiation from active galactic nuclei (AGN), usually thought to be deadly, may actually help life thrive – by strengthening the protective ozone layer in oxygen-rich atmospheres, thus making planets more resilient. Credit: IRLab/NSF/AURA/J. daSilva/M. Zamani

Black holes may contribute to the flourishing of life on nearby planets

New research reveals that radiation from active galactic cores can strengthen the protective ozone layer in oxygen-rich atmospheres and protect life from extinction.
The same beetles that eat the flower also spread its pollen. Photo: Tzlil Libin

Which anemone is tastier? The hidden battle between colors in nature

Why are there red anemones alongside purple, pink, and white anemones? Is this a random whim of nature, or perhaps colors that help the flowers evade hungry caterpillars? New research aims to solve the mystery
The venom sac (Photo: Elad Hayal Laboratory, University of Haifa – Oranim Campus)

A bacterium is passed from generation to generation through wasp venom.

Research reveals a unique way in which a bacterium hitches a ride on the venom of a parasitic wasp to pass from generation to generation, offering a new direction for studying the interactions between insects and microorganisms
Two ancient human skulls. Illustration: depositphotos.com

The genetic secret revealed: Humans evolved from two separate ancient species

New research at the University of Cambridge reveals that the modern human genome was created as a result of a merger between two ancient populations, which separated about 1.5 million years ago and reunited about 300 years ago.
Illustration depicting Homo sapiens and Neanderthals sharing technology and behavior (Credit: Efrat Bakshitz)

Contrary to conventional scientific belief: Homo sapiens and Neanderthals were not enemies and even cooperated

New research conducted in the Tanshemesh Cave in central Israel reveals that ancient humans lived together, shared technologies, and even maintained extensive cultural and social ties * Prof. Yossi Seidman of the Hebrew University, lead researcher
Prof. Pamela Bjorkman wins the 2025 Wolf Prize in Medicine. Photo: Wolf Prize Foundation

Wolf Prize in Medicine 2025: Recognition of Prof. Pamela Bjorkman for her pioneering contributions to the understanding of viral defense mechanisms

Prof. Pamela Bjorkman from the California Institute of Technology won the prestigious award for developing innovative antibody-focused approaches to combat viruses and establishing an infrastructure for advanced vaccine research.
The top of the clam transmits up to 60 percent of the light needed by the algae, while the bottom transmits only about a quarter of the light needed. Top row: Clams of the genus Corculum, Bottom row: Clams illuminated from the inside | From McCoy et al, 2024

The oysters that light the way

Mouth and teeth bacteria. Illustration: depositphotos.com

How does a common oral bacteria bypass the immune system?

New research reveals the evasion mechanism of Porphyromonas gingivalis using CD47 and thrombospondin-1, which allows the bacterium to survive in inflamed tissues and increase the risk of systemic diseases.
Megan DeAngelis and Kyles Findlay show off two of the Burmese pythons captured as part of the SFWMD-led python eradication program. Credit: Kevin Pavlidis

How science is helping Florida win the war against invasive pythons

New study reveals data-driven strategies to improve python control and preserve the Everglades' unique ecosystems
The elongated legionnaire (Abu Napha) is the most poisonous and dangerous species in the Mediterranean Sea. Photo: Oren Klein

Dizziness, paralysis and the risk of death: the health dangers of puffer fish

Dozens of poisonings have been documented in Mediterranean countries, including Israel. A new international study reveals the extent of the danger and how to protect yourself from the invasive species.
In recent years, Israel has imported about 60 percent of its tomato consumption in the months after the peak of summer. A food market in Tel Aviv. Illustration: depositphotos.com

The bacteria that saves the salad

The climate crisis and growing import volumes threaten the Israeli tomato. Groundbreaking research offers a natural and effective solution: using bacteria
Divers explore the coral reef in Eilat. Illustration: depositphotos.com

The coral reef in Eilat has temporarily "shut down" due to sea level change

New research from the Hebrew University and Bar-Ilan University reveals that the coral reef in the Gulf of Eilat experienced a temporary "shutdown" about 4,500 years ago due to falling sea levels. The researchers identified a recovery after about 3,000 years and found
The Merlin app has become one of the most popular tools for bird identification. Photo: pexels, technobulka

Man vs. Machine: Who is better at identifying birds?

The "Merlin" bird identification app is being tested by expert birders and amateurs. What were the results, and why is it still less accurate in Israel?
Eilat's northern coast near the Kinet Canal, 23/4/2024. Collecting details and photographs by Omri O'Oshai

Who painted the beaches of Eilat pink?

In April 2023 and 2024, mass die-offs of planktonic amphipods occurred in the Gulf of Eilat. Researchers have found that this was the effect of seasonal circular currents called eddies.
Great fin whale - rich language. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Whale song has a structure similar to human language

New research from the Hebrew University shows that the song of the fin whale has a statistical structure identical to that found in all the world's languages, a discovery that provides new insights into the evolution of communication.
Minister of Science and Technology Gila Gamliel and the head of the Isfaia Local Council, Munib Sabaa. Photo: Idan Media, for the Government Advertising Bureau

Oral bacteria linked to increased risk of stroke

The lead researcher from the National Heart Disease Center in Osaka, notes: "In the future, if a rapid test is developed to identify harmful bacteria in the mouth and intestines, we could use this information to calculate stroke risk."
Geckos reduce their activity to a minimum, and at the same time, their internal organs. Photo: Simon Jamieson

The gecko that eats itself to survive

This invasive species arrived in Israel about a decade ago and has since surprised and disturbed with its impressive abilities – meet the Egyptian walled gecko
Cuckoo chicks look similar to their host chicks. Cuckoo chicks (left) and their host "brothers" of different species (right) | Source: Naomi Langmore

The divergent adaptation of cuckoos

Cuckoos develop eggs and chicks that resemble those of their hosts, to avoid detection. When they have more than one host, this can lead to the creation of new species of cuckoos – especially if they are “violent”.
Image: Selenibacter rover cells (in green) under a microscope. Other colors represent different organisms in the salt. (Credit: Tomeu Viver)

The secret 'sex life' of bacteria: Study challenges old ideas about how species are formed

Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have found that bacteria not only create species, but also maintain them in a unique process reminiscent of sexual reproduction.
The 'gardeners' of the reef. Four healthy sea urchin species on Reunion Island (Photo: Jean-Pascal Quod)

The Gardeners of the Sea Are Disappearing: Are Coral Reefs Facing Collapse?

The deadly parasite that destroyed sea urchins in Eilat has also spread to the Indian Ocean
Two Homo erectus individuals sitting around a campfire. Illustration: depositphotos.com

How Homo erectus survived in harsh desert conditions over a million years ago

New evidence reveals that Homo erectus was able to survive in extreme environments like deserts as early as 1.2 million years ago, challenging the notion that only Homo sapiens was such an adaptable creature.
Photo: Naja Bertolt Jensen, Unsplash

When marine animals become plastic distributors

Marine animals eat microplastic particles and excrete them in their feces, endangering the marine environment.
The body structure of Australopithecus afarensis significantly limits its running speed. Imaging of the Australopithecus skeleton, with and without muscles | From the article, Bates, KT. et al., Current Biology, 2024

Evolutionary race

New study: An ancient species in the human lineage walked on two legs, but could not run as fast and efficiently as we do
Figure 2 - Stone tools and hand stones from site MW2, all made of volcanic raw materials. Photo credit - Arela Hubers.

The adaptability and thinking of early hominins in Ethiopia 1.6–1 million years ago was developed

The study examines how ancient humans chose and used different types of rocks to create tools, focusing on the archaeological site of Malacca and Kena in the Ethiopian highlands, one of the oldest high altitude settlement sites in the world
Within the canopy created by the algae, many species find food and shelter. Fry of the Sargus species drawn above a Sargassum forest in Bat Galim. Photo: Sarah Ohion

Haifa's underwater forest

Viruses attack bacteria. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Protection against viruses - the passive version

Researchers at the Faculty of Biology at the Technion discovered a unique mechanism that protects marine bacteria from viruses that attack them
The discovery of the 555-million-year-old fossil *Uncus dzaugisi* in South Australia confirms their origins in the Precambrian period of the ecdysozoans, and bridges an important evolutionary gap. Photo courtesy of Harvard University

A 555-million-year-old fossil sheds light on one of the great mysteries of evolution

The discovery of the oldest fossil from the Ecdysozoa family (Uncus dzaugisi), a group of animals characterized by shedding their skin and including insects, crustaceans and nematodes, sheds light on the early evolution of animals

Ants vs. Humans: The Maze Challenge

Group decision making makes ants smarter. With humans, on the other hand, sometimes it is better to be alone
Facial expressions of cats. Illustration: depositphotos.com

The Facial Language of Cats: How Facial Expressions Affect Communication and Social Bonding

A new international study led by researchers from the Tech4Animals laboratory at the University of Haifa succeeded with the development of artificial intelligence to diagnose that cats quickly imitate the facial expressions of other cats, especially in positive situations." pattern recognition
A block of metal emits oxygen. Illustration by Avi Blizovsky, using DALEE The illustration should not be seen as a scientific image.

The dark oxygen puzzle

Natural lumps of metal emit oxygen in the dark depths of the ocean, in the absence of photosynthesis, until now it was believed that there was no oxygen production in them at all
Evolution of man: display of skulls of our ancestors. Illustration: depositphotos.com

New research may explain why the human brain is so large and developed

A new study conducted at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem presents an innovative method for inferring DNA methylation patterns in tissues that did not come from ancient skeletons, and provides a deeper understanding of the evolutionary processes that shaped the human brain and its functions
Don't look in the jar. A view of the sponge Theonella conica at a depth of 27 m at the Katsa site, Eilat (Photo: Shani Shoham)

The original and prestigious way of the sponges in the Eilat Bay to keep predators away

The sponges use a precious metal to warn: beware! We are toxic