Nathan Jeffay

Nathan Jeffay is The Times of Israel's health and science correspondent

Illustrative image: an elderly woman in hospital (LightFieldStudios via iStock by Getty Images)

June 29, 2022, 6:07 pm

Israeli tech works to avert hospitalizations by flagging problems with clashing meds

Undetected problems with treatment regimens land many elderly patients in hospital; artificial intelligence system that sounds an alarm is built in Tel Aviv, deployed by Leumit HMO

By Nathan Jeffay

Illustrative image: a tired doctor (Iker Martiarena via iStock by Getty Images)

June 28, 2022, 6:05 pm

Tired doctors often leave patients in unnecessary pain, Israeli study finds

At night, patients are 20% to 30% less likely to get painkiller prescription than from day-shift physicians, research shows

By Nathan Jeffay

A Magen David worker takes a COVID-19 rapid antigen test in Jerusalem, on June 20, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

June 27, 2022, 1:21 pm

Science of uncertainty: Gov’t adviser on why this COVID wave is so hard to predict

Prof. Ran Balicer says current spike reflects waning immunity, a new variant and summer AC use — but widespread unreported home testing means we don’t know yet how severe it’ll be

By Nathan Jeffay

Biomica's pills, which are starting clinical trial in Israel (courtesy of Biomica)

June 24, 2022, 7:54 pm

Israeli company to test if fecal bacteria pills boost cancer immunotherapy

Prospective medication seeks to tweak gut germs in patients who don’t respond well to treatment, utilizing research that suggests microbiome impacts effectiveness

By Nathan Jeffay

Illustrative image: In April 2021, when the requirement to wear masks outdoors was dropped, an Israeli man cut through a huge face mask in Jerusalem. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

May 20, 2022, 2:18 pm

As more COVID rules axed, Israel in stable state, but not yet at endemic stage

In a Times of Israel Q&A, epidemiologist Michael Edelstein says that while Israel has COVID calm, and is abolishing travel-related rules, big fluctuations in cases still possible

By Nathan Jeffay

Illustrative image: a young man facing mental health challenges during the pandemic (lightspeedshutter via iStock by Getty Images)

May 16, 2022, 7:50 am

Ousting stigmas, Israel’s first mental health expo happening Monday – in English

Event in Jerusalem will tackle stigma surrounding mental health and give much-needed guidance as pandemic has brought many challenges to the fore, say organizers

By Nathan Jeffay

A young egg with the newly-documented zygotene cilium. (Courtesy of Hebrew University)

May 12, 2022, 9:36 pm

With chromosome find, Israelis open possible new path to fight infertility

Researchers say they’ve discovered a key mechanism in ensuring DNA strands inside eggs are organized correctly

By Nathan Jeffay

Illustrative image: A woman snores as her husband covers his ears (karenfoleyphotography via iStock by Getty Images)

May 12, 2022, 6:42 am

Israeli study: To save lives, doctors should ask post-menopausal women if they snore

Doctors often don’t ask about snoring, and patients are embarrassed to raise issue, meaning many miss getting a diagnosis of sleep apnea, which can lead to illness and even death

By Nathan Jeffay

Illustrative image: A screen with different faces, like those used in Hebrew University research which concluded that people tend to over-estimate the presence of minorities. (iStock via Getty Images)

May 10, 2022, 7:21 pm

Prejudice psychology? Israeli study finds brain inflates numbers in minority groups

Subjects consistently overestimated minority numbers in series of tests run by Hebrew University psychologists; they believe the mind trick may fuel intolerance

By Nathan Jeffay

Illustrative image: a woman receives a coronavirus vaccine in Kimana, southern Kenya on Aug. 28, 2021. While vaccines have been rolled out in Africa, boosters are lacking there, as in many other parts of the world. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga, File)

May 10, 2022, 10:02 am

Israeli study shows importance of COVID boosters, lacking in much of the world

Many Western countries long ago gave 3rd shots, but many poor countries haven’t; new peer-reviewed research spells out their value in upping antibodies’ quality and quantity

By Nathan Jeffay

Illustrative: People watch fireworks during a show to mark Israel's 71st Independence Day in Jerusalem on May 8, 2019. For May 5, 2022's Independence Day, numerous municipalities scrapped fireworks displays out of concern for people with PTSD. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

May 5, 2022, 10:31 am

The demise of fireworks: How PTSD awareness changed Israel’s Independence Day

Widely considered a ‘must’ for Israel’s birthday until now, fireworks canceled this year in many cities and towns out of respect for military veterans suffering from post-trauma

By Nathan Jeffay

Family members visiting a family member at the coronavirus ward of Ziv Medical Center in the northern city of Safed on February 15, 2022. (David Cohen/Flash90)

May 4, 2022, 3:24 pm

Israeli researchers warn of new international COVID wave, driven by Delta comeback

Omicron didn’t wipe out the previous variant, which is super-resilient and could reemerge with a vengeance, according to peer-reviewed study based on cutting-edge sewage monitoring

By Nathan Jeffay

The world’s most protected blood bank, newly opened in Israel (courtesy of American Friends of Magen David Adam)

May 2, 2022, 9:26 pm

Israel opens world’s most protected blood bank, rocket-proof and underground

Blood is a ‘strategic asset,’ so $135M. Magen David Adom facility has thick concrete walls and defense against missiles, biological and chemical attacks, earthquakes, cyberterror

By Nathan Jeffay

A factory producing Bamba in Sderot on May 8, 2014. (Moshe Shai/FLASH90)

April 29, 2022, 7:12 pm

A 5-month salmonella crisis in ’94 shows just how far Israel has come on food safety

Nearly 30 years ago, it took thousands of illnesses and the outbreak spreading abroad to find the source of the sickness; the current case could have been just as bad

By Nathan Jeffay

A medical illustration of human brain with waves and electric pulses (iStock via Getty Images)

April 28, 2022, 2:38 pm

Bold new Israeli brain theory touted as breakthrough for medicine, computing

Peer-reviewed study finds that much learning happens in dendrites rather than synapses, opening up new possibilities for treating degenerative diseases and a new model for AI

By Nathan Jeffay