About Us
Founded in 1944, the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science develops philanthropic support for the Weizmann Institute in Israel, and advances its mission of science for the benefit of humanity.
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/blog/nourishing-the-future-with-plants/
Aug 21, 2018...
Soy superhero: Asaph Aharoni is developing a soybean plant that is easy to grow, has all seven dairy proteins, is lactose- and cholesterol-free … and can help fight malnutrition in impoverished areas, too.
Evolution is all around us … and in us. Just one of the many proofs: lactose tolerance.
We are practically drowning in dairy products, and most of us consume them – even if we shouldn’t. Until fairly recently – “only about 20,000 years — the evolutionary equivalent of a hot minute,” as an NPR story puts it – human digestive systems could not tolerate lactose, the primary sugar in milk, after infancy. Furthermore, until the late 19th century, milk was regarded as a child’s food and was not the household dietary staple it is today.
Mar 20, 2020...
Dear friends and members of the Weizmann Institute of Science community,
The coronavirus outbreak is a global challenge that forces us all to significantly and rapidly adjust our way of life and change our work routines.
Just a few months ago we might have imagined such an event playing out only in books or movies. But epidemiologists, immunologists, and public health officials have long anticipated the possibility of a pandemic. The theoretical policies developed during these more peaceful days are now being implemented worldwide to address the current crisis.
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/news-media/in-the-news/are-you-a-handshake-sniffer/
Apr 07, 2015...
Do you sniff your hand after shaking someone else's?
This isn't a question I ever thought I'd ask myself, or you, but here we go, because, well...science.
The incredible Dr. Noam Sobel of the Weizmann Institute of Science ended up not only in a science journal this week, but in The Economist, with his findings. After handshakes, people are more likely to sniff their hands. But WHY? The piece ponders:
Jun 24, 2019... Technology can make our lives easier, but it also leaves us vulnerable to hackers. In the sixth episode of Weizmann in Focus, CEO Dave Doneson explores how Weizmann scientists are leading the way in cybersecurity. In a recent breakthrough, renowned cryptographer Prof. Adi Shamir exposed a major weakness in the “Internet of Things,” the growing world of smart devices that connect online. His groundbreaking work could result in better methods for keeping our private information safe.
Oct 02, 2019...
Arizona State University student Kyle Polen attending the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel to learn about scientific research.
After his senior year of high school, Kyle Polen could have used his summer to take a well-earned break before starting his first semester at Arizona State University. But Polen decided instead to study at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel.
Feb 05, 2017... An innovative protective suit against cosmic rays developed by Israeli startup StemRad is set to head for outer space. The Israel Space Agency and the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Space today signed an agreement with the German Aerospace Center for launching the Israeli company’s innovative suit as part of the next trial flight of NASA's Orion satellite. The company’s suit is designed for the first manned flight by Orion to Mars planned by NASA.
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/news-media/in-the-news/behind-true-innovation-curiosity/
Oct 26, 2016...
In his book “The World is Flat,” Thomas L. Friedman uses the rather lovely term “Passion Quotient.” We, at the Weizmann Institute, place just as much importance – if not more – on the scientists’ passion for a subject as on their intelligence or expertise.
How does one nurture the passion that leads to innovation?
Truly amazing amounts of knowledge are available to us today, which can be used for the development of practical applications, for example, next-generation cell phones. But such “instant gratification,” in which the science is motivated by the end results, will only get you so far in investigating questions in which we can’t even begin to fathom the discoveries and practical implications that could potentially stem from such research.
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/news-media/in-the-news/ecosphere-inspires/
May 18, 2016...
The Weizmann Institute's Ecosphere. Credit: Sura Jeselsohn
I grew up on science fiction and in my opinion, the heyday of the genre occurred in the 50s and 60s. One staple of the genre was a spaceflight by conventional rocket that would attempt a journey that could not be completed in a normal lifespan. One standard solution was some form of hibernation or induced sleep in the astronauts in order to wait out the many years of the voyage without aging. My favorite solution, however, was the completely self-contained spaceship that would be a world unto itself for several generations.
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/news-media/in-the-news/science-and-peace/
Feb 01, 2010...
Daniel Zajfman is the president of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel
History—not to mention different languages, cultures, and values—can make peace difficult to achieve. Science is a common ground upon which nations can collaborate to improve our world.
Since the first humans began experimenting with new designs for spears, scientific research has held the potential to change not only the way we live, but also how long we live. Human and animal labor has been replaced by the work of levers and machines. Distances have shrunk as new means of travel have been invented, and communication across these distances has become instantaneous. Modern drugs now cure many lethal diseases. In short, the quality of life and its span have improved for most, unfortunately not all, people on this planet.
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/news-media/news-releases/making-connections/
Dec 18, 2008...
REHOVOT, ISRAEL—December 18, 2008—Top-level research institutions in the UK and Israel will collaborate, thanks to a bold new initiative of Weizmann UK.
The program—entitled "Making Connections"—will bring together scientists from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel with their UK counterparts from the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London (ICL), and University College London (UCL).