From the news
6.12.22
Huge amounts of plastic waste have been discovered at the mouth of the Kidron Stream that abuts the Dead Sea’s waterline according to researchers from the Charney School of Marine Sciences who studied impurities in the salty lake. The research takes place as part of a course that uses advanced technologies, including drones, which is taught by Mizrahi, Dr. Yoav Lehan and Dr. Anna Brock. Its purpose is to locate plastic pollution and examine its impact and the annual drop in the level on the Dead Sea.
20.11.22
The Charney School is partnering with the United Arab Emirates University and the Germany-based GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel to investigate climate change and pollution in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and the Arabian Gulf. The five-year research initiative was signed at the UN’s annual climate conference COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh. The partners will use advanced marine technologies like novel cameras, chemical sensors, and underwater vehicles to collect data and develop science-based responses to climate change and pollution. Their goal is to develop models predicting what the Mediterranean and Arabian Gulf will look like in the future.
1.7.22
30.6.22
14.5.22
A dead sperm whale recently washed up on a Tel Aviv beach and officials conducted tests to try and determine the cause of death.
Dr. Scheinin told the Maariv news site that it was a young sperm whale and that its advanced state of decomposing made it difficult to immediately determine the cause of death. Dr. Scheinin also noted that sperm whales are endangered in the Mediterranean Sea. This was the third dead whale to wash up on Israel’s Mediterranean shore this year.
14.5.22
The Dead Sea sinkhole situation is worsening, according to a marine scientist, who is warning of a looming environmental catastrophe.
“At present, there are over 6,000 sinkholes on the western [Israeli] side alone,” said Dr. Michael Lazar, from the Dr. Moses Strauss Department of Marine Geosciences
5.5.22
The Wired magazine published an article on project CETI, an ambitious project aimed to decode the language of sperm whales. CETI is managed by Prof. Dan Tchernov (Marine Biology Dep.), and includes the build of three large acoustic moorings by the Underwater Acoustic and Navigation Laboratory, headed by Prof. Roee Diamant (Marine Technology Dep.) The data from the moorings is analyzed in real-time to detect and localize the whales by their sounds.
3.5.22
Prof. Tchernov is also Head of the Mediterranean Sea Research Center of Israel and the Scientific Director at the Morris Kahn Marine Research Station
5.4.22
Dr. Aviad Scheinin, head of Marine Apex Predator Lab at the Charney School, will lead the research, which will combine observation with the use of hydrophones to acoustically identify the mammals.
17.1.22
27.12.21
Skeletons of a young man and a dog who were killed by a tsunami triggered by the eruption of Santorini’s Thera volcano 3,600 years ago were recently uncovered at Çeşme-Bağlararası in modern-day Turkey. According to the research team, co-led by Dr. Beverly Goodman-Tchernov (Head, Dr. Moses Strauss Department of Marine Geosciences) and Dr. Vasıf Şahoğlu from Ankara University (Turkey), the area was rocked by at least four different tsunamis following the eruption of Thera. “This is the first time that victims of the Thera eruption have been discovered,” says Dr. Goodman-Tchernov. “As we analyze the volcanic ash layers at the site using advanced archaeological and sediment analysis methods, we hope to gain a better understanding of what happened to the area after the explosion.” The study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
16.11.21
United Arab Emirates Minister of Education, Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi visited the School as part of a delegation of Emirati senior officials. Introduced to the School’s renowned marine sciences research he remarked that “education is the antidote for challenges in the Middle East and throughout the world”.
16.11.21
31.10.21
27.10.21
This Haaretz article details how Charney School has become both a national and global leader in the battle against climate change.
1.9.21
12.8.21
12.8.21
27.7.21
Forbes Magazine features groundbreaking marine research led by the Charney School
13.7.21
“Unprecedented discoveries led by University of Haifa scientists could transform our understanding of climate change and global sustainability,” according to the latest “Editor’s Pick” in Forbes Magazine. The magazine article featured high-profile studies underway at the Charney School, including the discovery of the largest concentration of small sharks and shark eggs ever found off the coast of Israel and participation in the CETI (Cetacean Translation Initiative) Project (More on UofH’s role in the CETI Project in the 2021 President’s Report). These and many other marine research projects, aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, focus on the conservation and sustainable use of our oceans and seas.
Charney School study sheds light on the harmful effects of fish farming on marine life
5.7.21
The study revealed that pollutants such as copper, phosphorus, and zinc are still present in amounts much higher than expected ten years after fish cages were removed from the Gulf of Eilat. “There are proponents for restoring commercial fish farming systems to the Eilat Bay area, but they should consider that such a move will have significant long-term repercussions,” cautions the study’s first author, Dr. Shai Oron (postdoctoral fellow at the Dr. Moses Strauss Department of Marine Geosciences and the Eilat Inter-University Institute).
Jellyfish swarms tracked along coastline in Charney School study
2.7.21
Multiple jellyfish swarms are being tracked 400 meters off the coast of Israel in a study that is being conducted by the Charney School. The study being conducted has three objectives. The main question is whether the jellyfish drift with the current or swim on their own. The team is also looking into how jellyfish affect their environment, by eating plankton and releasing natural or poisonous substances into the water, as an example. Lastly, the study is researching the relationship between jellyfish and the germs surrounding them to see if their occasional disappearance from the area is due to a germ that is harmful to them.
Rare and unexpected scientific discovery: Shark breeding ground found with hundreds of small sharks and thousands of shark eggs off the coast of Israel
22.6.21
A routine underwater expedition off the coast of Israel has led to the discovery of the largest concentration of shark eggs ever found. “We couldn’t believe what we were seeing!” exclaimed Dr. Yizhaq Makovsky. “The habitat, which spans dozens, if not hundreds of meters, has an abundance of marine life not found in the waters in or around Israel.” High-resolution videos of the scene, including shark embryos moving inside their eggs, were captured by cameras mounted on a Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicle that was purchased with support from the Helmsley Charitable Trust and maintained by the Hatter Department of Marine Technologies. Researchers from University of Haifa, Ben Gurion University and Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research (IOLR) are taking part in this groundbreaking scientific project.
Archaeologists Baffled by Sea Level Rise on Israeli Coast in Hellenistic Period
16.6.21
The sea isn’t the steady thing we tend to think it is. It’s usually assumed that global sea level has been stable for around 7,000 years, i.e., throughout the existence of modern human civilization. We also assume that since the world’s oceans are interconnected, when sea level rises, it does so everywhere. But the sea is a prankster, and closer study reveals shows local anomalies in its relative level – some of which beggar explanation. Now an international team of scientists headed by Prof. Assaf Yasur-Landau of the Charney School, reports in PLOS One on indications of such an anomaly on Israel’s Mediterranean coastline: an upward creep between the Mid-Bronze Age to Iron Age and then a sharp rise in the Hellenistic period, apparently by about 2.5 meters (8 feet) in total, to the level we know today. That is some anomaly.
Ancient stone anchor used for 2,000 years found on Israel’s northern coast
10.6.21
Archaeologists have uncovered an ancient boat anchor made of stone that remained in use for around 2,000 years, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority announced Thursday.
The anchor was found in an underwater dig at the Tel Dor archaeological site in northern Israel, conducted by the Charney School Maritime Civilizations Department , and The parks authority.
9.6.21
Dr. Aviad Scheinen, Apex Predators Principal Investigator at the School, named National Geographic’s 2021 “Emerging Explorer”
31.5.21
Dr. Aviad Scheinen has been named by National Geographic as one of the 15 Emerging Explorers of 2021, changing the world “one idea at a time.”
Dr. Scheinin is the head of the Marine Apex Predator Lab at the Charney Scholol’s Morris Kahn Marine Research Station. In this capacity, he has for decades been one of Israel’s leading researchers on sharks, rays and coastal dolphins.
Groundbreaking research that could shed light on how best to save and protect coral reefs
4.5.21
Dr. Tali Mass and Dr. Shani Levy of our Marine Biology Department, joined by researchers from the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) in Barcelona and the Weizmann Institute of Science, have mapped the genetic profile of each cell in stony corals for the first time. The study provides insights into the protection and conservation of coral reefs threatened by climate change.
Researchers from the Charney School to take part in major scientific quest to decipher the secret language of whales
27.4.20
Prof. Dan Tchernov (Department of Marine Biology), Dr. Roee Diamant (Hatter Department of Marine Technologies), Dr. Bracha Nir (Department of Communication Disorders) and additional marine scientists from the Charney School, are taking part in a high profile, international research project that aims to decipher communication signals of sperm whales, in an effort to communicate with them one day. The joint interdisciplinary research study with Harvard, MIT, Imperial College London, UC, Berkeley and City University of New York, combines expertise from several different fields of study including marine biology, marine acoustics, artificial intelligence and linguistics. Read more in the Times of Israel and Israel Hayom.
Prof. Ilana Berman-Frank discusses the significance of Israel sea
21.4.21
Warm Waters Draw Sharks Off Israel's Mediterranean Coast
20.4.21
Dr. Aviad Scheinin, head of the Marine Apex Predator Lab at the Charney Scholol’s Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, explains why swimming with sharks has become an annual occurrence along Israel’s shores.
Toxic tar spill ‘one of the worst ecological disasters in Israel’s history’
23.2.20
Prof. Ilana Berman, Head of the Charney School, explains why cleaning up toxic tar along the surface of Israel’s coast is just the beginning of getting through one of the country’s most serious ecological disasters.
Study warns of an imminent earthquake in Israel
24.12.20
A study reviewing 220,000 years of Dead Sea geology predicts the occurrence of a major seismic event to hit the region in the next few decades. According to research data uncovered from the Dead Sea seabed, 7.5-magnitude tremors hit the Dead Sea every 1,300-1,400 years – instead of every 10,000 years as previously believed. Since the last quake of such magnitude hit the area in the year 1,033 C.E., we are currently living in a tectonically active period. Dr. Nicolas Waldmann (Dr. Moses Strauss Department of Marine Geosciences), who specializes in sedimentology and seismic stratigraphy analysis, is a co-author of the study which appeared in Science Advances.
University of Haifa scientists find an evolutionary relationship that may lead to treatments for depression and anxiety
24.12.20
A collaborative study by Drs. Tamar Lotan and Shani Levy from our Marine Biology Department, and Dr. Mickey Kosloff (Department of Human Biology) has discovered surprising evolutionary similarities in the functioning of the human nervous system and that of the sea anemone. The research found that the neurotransmitter GABA, which regulates the preliminary development of the nervous system in mammals and particularly in humans, follows a similar regulatory process by a receptor from the family in the sea anemone Nematostella GABABR vectensis. This unexpected relationship not only opens new avenues for basic research in neuronal development and evolution, it also offers new possibilities for pharmacological research aimed at finding new drugs for human ailments such as depression and anxiety. Nature Ecology and Evolution, the premiere journal in ecology, evolution, and related fields, published the paper describing these findings.
International multidisciplinary team of researchers find evidence that the coast of Haifa was hit by a massive tsunami some 10,000 years ago
24.12.20
The team, made up of archaeologists and geologists from the Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, the University of California, San Diego and Utah State University, estimate the wave measured 50-130 feet high and reached 1.5-3.5 kilometers inland. The event is the earliest known tsunami in the Mediterranean and may possibly explain the absence of signs of human habitation in the area between 10,000 and 12,000 years ago. However, by the late Neolithic age (around 5,000 BCE), the area was again settled. Research findings, based on excavations conducted in the area of Tel Dor off the coast of Haifa, were recently published in PLOS One and reported in major media outlets in Israel and abroad. >>READ MORE in The Times of Israel and Ynet
How are archaeologists using hi-tech during the coronavirus era?
25.11.20
Our marine archaeologists and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography researchers, had to get creative to work on their collaborative excavation without actually travelling due to quarantines.
Haifa researchers discover documentation of dolphin attacked by shark
30.10.20
For the first time in Israel, a dolphin has been photographed with scars after it was attacked by a shark, spotted off the coast of Ashdod by researchers from the University of Haifa.
“For 20 years in which I have been researching the dolphin population in Israel, I have not seen any evidence of a dolphin being attacked by a shark,” said Aviad Scheinin, top predator project manager at the Morris Khan Marine Research Station at the School. “We will continue to monitor the dolphin population in order to understand whether this is an unusual incident of assault or a new phenomenon.”
Charney's School research team working to combat overfishing and protect endangered marine life
10.11.20
Rare masthead from ancient shipwreck found in northern Israel
23.9.20
A masthead found in a shipwreck off northern Israel sheds light on sailing and shipbuilding during the Late Antiquity period, according to a paper just published in the International Journal of Nautical Archaeology.
Maayan Cohen, a PhD candidate at the department of maritime civilizations a, and Dr. Deborah Cvikel, a researcher at the Leon Recanati Institute for Maritime Studies and a senior lecturer at the department of maritime civilizations, are the authors of the paper, titled, “Rigging of the Ma’agan Mikhael B shipwreck (7th–8th centuries AD): new finds.”
A Canaanite palace was abandoned 3,700 years ago. Archaeologists finally know why.
11.9.20
Congregations to our researchers Dr. Michael Lazar, Prof. Ruth Shahack and Prof. Assaf Yasur-Landau for their recent publication reporting on possible earthquake evidence 3700 years ago at Tel Kabri.
Uncovering The Commutes Of Israel’s Sharks
18.8.20
Coral reef research earns NSF-BSF grant
8.8.2020
The NSF-BSF Joint Funding Research Program recently awarded a grant totaling $820,000 for coral reef research led by Dr. Tali Mass of the Department of Marine Biology and Dr. Gretchen Goodbody-Gringely, Research Director of the Central Caribbean Marine Institute. The study aims to better understand coral reef resilience and adaptation to extreme environments. “Using advanced molecular and imaging techniques, we will examine the mechanisms that enable corals to thrive across broad depth gradients,” explains Dr. Mass. “As a US-Israel binational project, we will promote diversity and create new international collaborations through student participation, training workshops and academic exchanges.”
More than Jelly: UofH scientists reveal beneficial uses of jellyfish
31.7.2020
Dr. Tamar Lotan, Prof. Dror Angel and Dr. Dor Edelist of the Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences and the Leon Recanati Institute for Maritime Studies, educate the public about the potential benefits of jellyfish: “Their mucus can trap microplastic particles to clean up the oceans, and their body contains collagen that cosmetics companies are already applying in anti-aging products.”
Old Ship from Ma'agan Michael
26.7.2020
Dr. Deborah Cvikel from the Department of Marine Civilizations was interviewed for an article published in the Jerusalem Post about the ship from Maagan Michael and said: “We could not determine with certainty what caused the ship to sink, but we think it was probably a navigation error.” Which was carefully constructed and beautifully preserved. “
Sharks are disappearing from the world’s seas!
24.7.2020
Doctoral candidate Adi Barash of the Charney School , explains why the situation is more critical than ever and how Israel is leading the way in protecting the alpha predators.
Research unveils Kinneret’s geological enigmas, may help predict quakesel
20.7.2020
University of Haifa geologists prepared the first-ever geological map of young faults (fractures) in the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee), marking the locations prone to earthquakes. “Until now researchers believed that most of the tectonic activity takes place in the eastern part of the Sea of Galilee,” explains Dr. Michael Lazar. “Now we know that the fault splits and passes in the middle of the lake.” Twelve newly installed seismic monitoring stations around the lake will register all minor earthquakes occurring during the year and analyze the geochemical composition of the springs around the lake. The study, led by Dr. Lazar of the Dr. Moses Strauss Department of Marine Geosciences at the School , was conducted in collaboration with researchers from Italy, Switzerland and Norway. The findings were recently published in Scientific Reports.
14.7.2020
It was known the Negev was wetter in the past, but evidence of long-gone lakes hadn’t been dated: Now it’s clear that when hominins exited Africa at least 1.8 million years ago, the conditions were gorgeous
Israeli Researchers Warn Of ‘Larger-Than-Ever’ Jellyfish Off Haifa Coast
13.7.2020
Every year, in the scorching Israeli summer, beachgoers start counting down to jellyfish season — that time of year when the pesky, fear-inducing sea creatures suddenly swarm the waters and wash up ashore, terrorizing swimmers in their path.
This year, in one part of the country, those jellyfish are “larger than ever,” according to researchers at the University of Haifa’s Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences.
Why are Israel’s jellyfish jumbo-sized this year?
13.7.2020
As yearly summer swarm of the stinging creatures reaches its peak, University of Haifa scientists contemplate what makes them bigger than usual.
2020 Shanghai Academic Ranking
5.7.2020
The prestigious Shanghai Ranking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2020 ranked the Charney School of Marine Sciences among the world’s top 200 Marine Science Schools.
New hope for coral reefs
5.6.2020
Corals are one of the most beautiful and fascinating ecosystems in the world. However, due to rising sea temperatures, pollution and ocean acidification, they are also one of the most threatened. Pioneering work of ERC grantee Tali Mass of the Marine Biology Department, shows that corals might be less vulnerable to some of these changes in their environment than previously thought, bringing new hope for their conservation.
NatGeo Explorer Classroom: exploring coastlines with Beverly Goodman
6.5.2020
Dr. Beverly Goodman, of the Dr. Moses Straus Department of Marine Geosciences, in an article for National Geographic: Meet Beverly Goodman, who blends archaeology, geology, and anthropology to explore the interaction between nature and humans on coastlines. Learn how she’s able to do science underwater through a combination of scuba skills and research techniques.
Israeli team’s undersea imaging creates bold visibility
19.1.20
The value of coral reef ecosystems can hardly be overstated and neither can the threats they face on a warming planet. Now there’s a new undersea imaging technology to help oceanographers and researchers understand what’s happening beneath the sea, because they’re able to more clearly see object color and structure.
Israel charts the universe's last great frontier
31.12.2019
There is tremendous untapped potential and infinite discoveries to be made in the seas, whether in the field of health and food or a greater understanding of submarine ecosystems.
Why Are Sharks Settling Off Israel's Coast?
27.12.2019
The sharks have returned — to the warm waters off Hadera power station
28.11.19
Scientists begin tagging specimens for research, warn public to stay away, though intrepid divers are expected to frequent underwater site
How Israel Became An Unlikely Shark Research Hub, According To A Marine Ecology Expert
28.11.19
Over the past several years, researchers have noted that dozens of sharks have been flocking to the coast off of the northern Israeli city of Hadera during the winter months.
Scientists have spotted an increasing amount of sandbar and dusky sharks in the area, drawn by the warm waters pumped into the sea by the Hadera power plant well and rising temperatures in the Mediterranean generally.
Israeli researchers develop sonar system to identify marine threats
18.8.19
Researchers at the University of Haifa developed an innovative underwater sonar system, propagating omni-directional acoustic signals from a single transceiver to identify potential threats.
Israel to host 27 US students in new marine sciences exchange program
11.8.19
Our School has been selected as one of just 6 universities worldwide to host U.S. students as part of prestigious Oceanography Exchange program.
Marine biology experts unpack Israel's jellyfish problem
15.7.19
Experts from the University of Haifa’s Charney School of Marine Sciences dive into the ongoing phenomenon of Israel’s jellyfish swarms and explain how to keep the situation under control.
Researchers: Sea Urchin Could Aid in Cancer Research
7.4.19
Scientists believe that mimicking development processes of creature’s skeleton could be a way block tumor growth in humans.
Researchers from the University of Haifa believe that the way the sea urchin builds it skeleton might hold the key to discovering a way to prevent tumors from growing in humans.
Scientists believe jellyfish could help rid our waters of plastic waste
13.9.18
Prof. Dror Angel, from the Department of Maritime Civilizations, has been leading a team of researchers looking into how jellyfish could be used to isolate microplastics in seawater and ocean water by creating a filter made of jellyfish mucus.
A Bike Built for Magnetic Mapping
25.4.17
Mounting a magnetic sensor on a bicycle offers an efficient, low-cost method of collecting ground magnetic field data over rough terrain where conventional vehicles dare not venture.
An article by Dr. Uri Schattner of the Dr. Moses Straus Department of Marine Geosciences, published in the American Geophysical Union Journal.
THE OCEAN FLOOR IS THE LIMIT
21.4.17
The Charney School is at the forefront of research focusing on the eastern Mediterranean Sea, a field that has profound impacts on many aspects of life in the region.
‘There will be a tsunami on Israel's shores – the question is when'
2.5.14
Scientists believe that mimicking development processes of creature’s skeleton could be a way block tumor growth in humans.
Researchers from the University of Haifa believe that the way the sea urchin builds it skeleton might hold the key to discovering a way to prevent tumors from growing in humans.
