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Dear Friends,
It has been just over a week since we heard the devastating news that six precious hostages were executed; the pain is still raw. We have gotten to know their stories; we have shared their families' pain and agony over these past eleven months.
Every life cut short is a tragedy, but for Jews it is even more profound. Pikuach Nefesh, the belief in the sanctity of life, makes saving a human life more important than any mitzvot. The murder of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an American citizen, and Carmel Gat, a Tel Aviv University (TAU) graduate of the occupational therapy department, the pain cuts deeper. Together with Ori Danino, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Eden Yerushalmi, may their memories forever be for a blessing.
To be a Jew is to be an optimist, and life must go on. We will continue to counter the pain with life-affirming news from Tel Aviv University, shining light on the incredible discoveries emanating from TAU.
And talking of shining light ...
Sunshine is the key to falling in love, according to a new study from Professor Carmit Levy's lab in the Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry. The team found that exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight enhances romantic passion in humans. In the study, men and women were exposed to UVB (ultraviolet radiation type B) under controlled conditions, and the findings were unequivocal: the exposure resulted in increased levels of romantic passion in both genders. The breakthrough opens the door for further discoveries in basic science, including understanding human exposure to sunlight.
Sunflowers are synonymous with summer, and if you have driven by any fields, you may have noticed that they appear to dance. A joint study between TAU's School of Plant Sciences and Food Security in collaboration with the University of Colorado Boulder discovered that plants growing in dense environments, where each plant casts a shadow on its neighbor, respond with random movements, or dances, that help them find optimal directions for growth. The study sheds light on a scientific puzzle that has occupied researchers since Darwin, namely the functional role of these inherent movements called circumnutations.
The Boaz Barak Brain Behavior Lab at TAU focuses its research on understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of genetic neurodevelopmental disorders such as Williams syndrome and autism spectrum disorders. Their goal is to ultimately develop drugs that will rescue the behavioral and functional deficits in brain behavior.
With artificial intelligence (AI) and other digital technologies revolutionizing health care, TAU has launched a new MSc in digital health to help students take charge of the digital healthcare revolution. The program will be run by Professor Noam Shomron, an expert in gene expression and translating data for clinical settings.
Both new programs and new construction represent endless possibilities, and I look forward to sharing them with you.
Wishing you a peaceful weekend and praying for the remaining hostages to be brought home now.
Am Yisrael Chai!
Shabbat shalom.
Sincerely,
Dr. Garry A. Rayant
Chairman, American Friends of Tel Aviv University
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