Biotechnology

Psilocybe cubensis grows worldwide in tropical and subtropical regions, including Central and South America, Southeast Asia, and Oceania. The mushroom prefers moist, fertile soils and contains the psychoactive substance psilocybin, which is currently being investigated as an active ingredient in the treatment of treatment-resistant depression. Credit: Felix Blei, Leibniz-HKI

Mushrooms evolved psychedelics twice – a rare case of convergent evolution

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An international study has found that two types of mushrooms have independently evolved different biochemical pathways for producing psilocybin – the psychoactive substance currently being studied as a treatment for drug-resistant depression.
The stages of chocolate making from the bean to the cube. Photo: Mimi Chu Leung / University of Nottingham

The secret science that could change chocolate forever

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New research from the University of Nottingham suggests transforming the fermentation process of cocoa beans from a spontaneous process to a controlled scientific standard – ensuring consistent, high-quality, and flavorful chocolate around the world.
Prof. Tal Dvir from the Sagol Center for Regenerative Biotechnology, head of the Nanotechnology Center at Tel Aviv University and chief scientist of the biotech company Trisself. Photo: Tel Aviv University Spokesperson

Tel Aviv University researchers have developed a human spinal cord implant that allows paralyzed people to regain movement

A team led by Prof. Tal Dvir has succeeded in growing a customized spinal cord transplant from the patient's own cells. After success in animals, the Ministry of Health has approved the first human trial in Israel.
Comparing digestive systems: men versus women in models built in the Lezmas Laboratory. Courtesy of the Technion

The stomach speaks differently: Men and women digest milk differently

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Technion researchers have discovered that biological sex (or gender) affects the efficiency of digesting milk and its substitutes – a finding that may change perceptions of nutrition and food engineering.
Prof. Moran Berkowitz and Prof. Naama Geva Zatorsky, winners of the ERC Poc grant for 2025. Photo: Technion Spokesperson and Lucido Studio.

Technion researchers win EU "feasibility grants" for developing breakthrough technologies in medicine and optics

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Prof. Moran Berkowitz from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Prof. Naama Geva-Zatorsky from the Faculty of Medicine will develop technologies for the production of customized lenses and personalized melanoma treatment – thanks to ERC Proof of Concept grants
The evolution of the Martian landscape: from red to a blue-green planet with water and vegetation. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Landing on Mars is no longer science fiction – this is what it could look like

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The problem of plastic pollution threatens the planet. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Plastic that decomposes with the help of bacteria – an environmental breakthrough or a laboratory gimmick? "Living" plastic that decomposes itself

Researchers in the US have developed a "living" plastic that decomposes using biological spores, but experts warn: Without appropriate infrastructure and systemic change, the development will not solve the plastic crisis.
Vaccine hesitancy, now under government guise. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Political crises threaten the future of mRNA drugs

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Federal and state policies in the US create uncertainty among biotech companies and hinder the development of personalized mRNA vaccines
Viruses attack bacteria. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Protection against viruses - the passive version

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Researchers at the Faculty of Biology at the Technion discovered a unique mechanism that protects marine bacteria from viruses that attack them
Starving cancer through sugar deprivation. The image was prepared using DALEE and is not a scientific image

Breakthrough in brain cancer treatment: starving cancer cells causes them to burn themselves

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DNA structure. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Break the cell boundaries

Weizmann Institute of Science scientists have created the smallest artificial genetic circuit ever. The new development based on a single DNA molecule is expected to promote the next generation of nanobiotechnological applications
From the right: Dr. Shagit Meir, Dr. Eva Heinig, Dr. Nikolai Kuzmich, Prof. Assaf Aharoni, Dr. Shirley Berman, Dr. Yoav Peleg, Hila Hart and Dr. Ilana Rogchev (photographed in the nursery Regev)

Hallucinations of cacti

The secrets of the production of mescaline have been revealed - a natural hallucinogenic drug with therapeutic potential * The drug extracted from the extinct peyote cactus has been used in religious ceremonies for thousands of years. Its effect on serotonin receptors in the brain
A street lit with petunia plants with gardens of fireflies. The illustration was prepared using DALEE and is not a scientific image.

Glowing Botany: Glow-in-the-dark petunias are coming to cities

The Light Bio company has developed petunia plants that contain a lighting garden of fireflies. Will they give up the street lights?
Smart liquid. Credit: The Science website via DALEE. The picture is not a scientific picture

For the first time: "smart liquids" will be used as sensitive biological sensors

The team of researchers explained that the uniqueness of the smart liquids is that, as a result of their chemical properties, the liquids maintain separation from each other, thus creating distinct droplets
Chemical simulation. The image was prepared as an illustration using the artificial intelligence software DALEE and is not used as a scientific image.

Not only in computers: the "legality" of the Restart also works in chemical simulations

Researchers have discovered that the original way to speed up chemical processes is to reboot
One of the gates of Peking University in Beijing. Illustration: depositphotos.com

China is increasing ethics oversight in science and emphasizing innovation and quality over quantity

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Under the new system, Chinese researchers will be evaluated based on the quality and impact of their work rather than the number of publications they produce. Researchers who are found to have been involved in research misconduct will be prosecuted
ALS disease. Illustration: shutterstock

Immunity Pharma announces the start of a clinical study in ALS patients with the original drug IPL344

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Ferritin is not in the classical secretion pathway of the cell. The location of ferritin distribution (green) and its distribution in bone marrow-derived macrophage cells is not affected by a substance that damages the classical secretory pathway, the Golgi organ (red). Courtesy of the Technion.

A new study changes the way of thinking about the transport of iron in the body

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Illustration: pixabay.

Hand by order

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By reprogramming the DNA of harmful microorganisms, such as the E. coli bacteria pictured, biologists turn them into drugs that save patients' lives. Source: NIAID.

Reprogramming bacteria saves life

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Comparison between computer models (in green) and experimental structures (in purple). Accuracy at the single atom level in both the overall structure (left) and the loop segments (right). Source: Weizmann Institute magazine.

A computerized method for the production of artificial proteins

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The fibers look like Legos in an electron microscope. Source: Weizmann Institute magazine.

Self-assembling proteins

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Graphene and gold make brain detectors more efficient. Courtesy: DGIST.

A brain detector composed of graphene and gold

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Adaptation of the cover image appearing in the journal Analytical Chemistry. Source: Courtesy of the Technion Spokesperson.

Researchers have developed a tiny diagnostic device characterized by high sensitivity to disease markers

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Prototype of the Watson system, 2011. Photo: Clockready / Wikimedia.

Watson set a record in analyzing the genetic makeup of cancer patients

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Tiny silk capsules that resemble silkworm cocoons may be used to transport antibodies and drugs

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Dr. Jinao Tang. Source: The University of Hong Kong.

Microscopic robots carry drugs in the bloodstream

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In the photo from the right: Mark Feiglin - director of scouting and partnerships at the Merck Group in Israel, Suderson Sinha from Tel Aviv University, mentor Gael Waiche - from the Merck Group in Germany, Max Kushner from the Weizmann Institute, Daoud Shaban from the Weizmann Institute. Photo: Liat Elder.

Technology for accurate counting of bacterial colonies won the Merck hackathon in Israel

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Mixi Biomed Conference 2017. Photo, Alex Allman, MIXiii-BIOMED.

The role of robotics in old age, cell regeneration and solutions in the field of digital medicine for the aging population

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Mixi Biomed Conference 2017. Source: from the conference website.

Personalized medicine, the aging process and their impact on the global economy

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The graphene layer (gray) leads the nanomedicine (white, red and blue) to the outer wall of the cell (yellow and red). Source: Courtesy of IBM.

Researchers at IBM have discovered a new way to stimulate an immune response in the body using nanomaterials

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Prof. Amir Landsberg. Source: Technion spokesmen.

New avenues in medicine

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It seems that as a result of several technological trends that will integrate and reinforce each other, hospitals will become less and less relevant for the majority of patients in the coming decades. They will not disappear completely, but most citizens will be able to avoid visiting them, or at least being hospitalized for a long time. Illustration: pixabay.com.

The future of hospitals, medicine - and the health of all of us

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insulin pump. Source: Mbradford / Wikimedia.

The artificial pancreas is here

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The innovative bandage based on a parasitic worm called Pomphorhynchus laevis. Photo courtesy of Dr.Karp.

On a bandage that doesn't move, skin grafts, and one parasite

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Dendrites, which are the focus of Prof. Jackie Schiller's and doctoral student Maya Sandler's research. This study, along with other studies by researchers from other research disciplines, demonstrates the in-depth collaboration between researchers to deepen research and development in the field of the brain. Image source: Mathias De Roo / Wikimedia.

Researchers at the Technion are increasing their collaboration to expand research and development in the field of the brain

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Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito - the carrier and spreader of the West Nile virus. Source: CDC/Jim Gathany 2003 / Wikimedia.

IBM, together with the Israeli Melnox and NVIDIA, decoded the genome of the Nile fever mosquito

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Image: pixabay.com.

Computing with DNA strands

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Among the developments made in the Biotechnology and Food Engineering Laboratory at the Technion are stickers for mouth ulcers, which were developed inspired by the adhesive ability of geckos. Photo: Brocken Inaglory, Wikimedia.

Imitation of principles from nature in the development of synthetic materials

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Source: Luc Viatour / Wikimedia.

Medusas for laser

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Photo from a malaria vaccination project in the Solomon Islands. Source: Jeremy Miller, AusAID, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Flickr.

I know you from where?

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Image: pixabay.com.

The Sanger Genetic Research Institute launches Science-as-a-Service and on-demand computing based on Red Hat open technologies

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Myxine fish. Photo: f Andra Zommers and Douglas Fudge, in: Will hagfish yield the fibers of the future?, PNAS, 2016.

Will a deep-sea fish affect the future of the textile industry?

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building Source: Alejandro Hernandez / flickr.

Wet dream - dry

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Prime Minister of Lithuania Algridis Botkevicius at the opening session of the Life Sciences Baltics conference. PR photo

Prime Minister of Lithuania: We will become a leading European father of life sciences in 2020

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Prof. Jozoas Lazotka, head of the United Center for Life Sciences, University of Vilnius. Photo: Avi Blizovsky

The paradise of life science researchers

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A cluster consisting of a "support" protein (grey) and a DNA molecule. The structure of the single helix of DNA (in green), which the model predicted, corresponds to the structure of the helix discovered in the experiment (orange). Source: Weizmann Institute of Science.

positive reinforcements

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Biomedical Engineering. Illustration: shutterstock

The future: technology-based medicine

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Bacteriophages attack bacteria. Illustration: shutterstock

Viruses in the service of future medicine

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Biotechnology and medical devices: Ogmedix, ReWalk, Salcure and Kameda

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