What Does the “Love Hormone” Do? And more news from the Weizmann Institute of Science

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Forefront of Science

Which Came First?

Life Sciences

An experiment in reconstructing primordial proteins solves a long-standing riddle

The characteristic (HhH)2 fold and its binding to the minor groove of a modern DNA molecule. How did the first ones form?

Observation of Excess Events in the XENON1T Dark Matter Experiment

Space & Physics

Are they a sign of an infinitesimal impurity or a need to rewrite the physics books?

The XENON1T lab is deep under Gran Sasso Mountain in Italy

Electric on the Outside

Chemistry

Researchers find an electric effect in an unlikely place

(l-r) Hagai Cohen, Prof. Meir Lahav, Dr. Irit Rosenhek-Goldian, Prof. Igor Lubomirsky, Evgeniy Makagon, Dr. David Ehre

What Does the “Love Hormone” Do? It’s Complicated

Life Sciences

A study of mice in a semi-natural setting shows how the hormone oxytocin can amplify aggression as well as friendliness

Competition or cooperation? Oxytocin might enhance social cues for both

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary, How Does Your Crystal Grow?

Chemistry

Weizmann Institute Scientists have created unique, paradoxical, “yo-yo” crystals

(l-r) Dr. Linda Shimon, Dr. Michal Lahav, Dr. Maria Chiara di Gregorio and Prof. Milko van der Boom

Fewer Infections, More Allergies: Finding the Connection

Life Sciences

“Packages” released by bilharzia parasites may hold the key to better diagnosis and treatment, and may point to new ways of treating autoimmune disorders

A female Schistosoma worm is seen emerging from the body of an adult male. Scanning electron microscopy by Bruce Wetzel and Harry Schaefer

Three Research Groups, Two Kinds of Electronic Properties, One Material

Space & Physics

Combining materials science, experimental and theoretical physics, a long-term study paves the way to new designed materials with multiple electrical functionalities

The combined surface spectrum of a terrace with a 1D topological channel residing along the step-edge. It consists of six Dirac cones (located on the dashed circle) that represent the crystalline topological states coexisting with 1D linear spectrum (the X at the middle) that represents the helical metallic channel at the step edge

Ticking at Extreme Altitudes

Life Sciences

A new study will assess the effects of low oxygen on the human body’s circadian cycles

Prof. Gad Asher joined an expedition to La Rinconada in 2020, to monitor team members' circadian cycles

Cracking Non-Classical Crystal Formation

Chemistry

Some crystals do not come together as predicted. New research explains why

A three-dimensional molecular model show that order and density increase progressively – from the lowest (red) at the periphery to the highest (blue) degree of order at the center

Dirac Electrons Come Back to Life in Magic-Angle Graphene

Space & Physics

A new symmetry-broken parent state discovered in twisted bilayer graphene

The symmetry-breaking phase transition in magic-angle graphene. The four ‘flavours’ of Dirac electrons filling their energy levels are represented by four ‘liquids’ filling conical glasses.

Cells inside Cells: The Bacteria That Live in Cancer Cells

Life Sciences

The bacterial lodgers in cancer cells may hinder or help treatment

Bacteria (green) find homes in cancer cells and snuggle up to the nuclear walls

Drawing by Beata Edyta Mierzwa (www.BeataScienceArt.com)

Under Pressure in the Cell

Life Sciences

The Golgi apparatus, a small but crucial organelle, has its own “breakup” mechanism

The 26S proteasome is required for dispersal of the Golgi apparatus. Top -- proteasomes move in to destroy the Golgi in cells within hours after being treated with a stressor, ultimately killing the cells. (Bottom is the control, treated with ethyl acohol)

Solving the Riddle: When was Wilson's Arch, under Jerusalem's Temple Mount, Built?

Chemistry

Analyzing a handful of charred seeds reveals the ancient builder of an iconic structure in the Western Wall Tunnels

Wilson's Arch is still partially visible today to visitors to the Western Wall in Jerusalem

Awards

Weizmann Institute of Science is Seventh in Top ERC Grants

Around one in two proposals put forward by Institute researchers for some of the most competitive grants receives funding

Art on Campus

"Travel Diary" | Shony Rivnay

Stone Administration Building, ground floor

Curator: Yivsam Azgad

As the act of documenting and sharing personal experiences on social networks with anyone who may be interested becomes ever more prevalent, it might be difficult to recall how, in the not too distant past, we used to send our loved ones colorful postcards from the places we visited.

Shony Rivnay tries to report and share his travel notes with us. But his is an inner journey, amid thoughts and feelings. We do not know where and when this journey took place. We do not receive continuous reporting, but flashes of vague instances along the journey or occurrence. It could be said that Rivnay is not making an effort to convey a detailed message.