We’re looking back at seven decades of remarkable discoveries—and inviting you to choose your favorite.

Can plants talk? Can a damaged spinal cord be rebuilt? Could our brains help us fight cancer? These might sound like questions from a science fiction novel, but at Tel Aviv University, they’re the starting points for real scientific discoveries.

Since its founding in 1956, TAU has grown from a modest local college into one of Israel’s leading research universities, with breakthroughs that reach far beyond its campus. And some of the most fascinating discoveries began with questions nobody thought to ask.

When Plants Speak, Moths Listen

It turns out that plants aren’t nearly as quiet as we thought. Researchers led by Profs. Lilach Hadany and Yossi Yovel discovered that stressed plants emit ultrasonic clicking sounds, and that female moths can hear them. More remarkably, moths use these sounds to avoid laying their eggs on unhealthy plants. The discovery revealed an entirely new form of communication between plants and animals, one that could eventually transform agriculture.

Rebuilding the Spinal Cord

What if paralysis could one day be reversed? Prof. Tal Dvir and his team have developed a personalized, 3D-engineered spinal cord implant made using a patient’s own cells. In preclinical animal studies, the technology restored movement in a remarkable proportion of cases. Now, researchers are preparing to test the approach in humans, bringing a once-unimaginable treatment closer to reality.

Fighting Cancer from the Inside

Instead of bombarding a tumor with radiation from outside the body, what if doctors could attack it from within? That’s the idea behind Alpha DaRT, a technology originating in the research of the late Prof. Itzhak Kelson and Prof. Yona Keisari. By placing tiny radiation sources directly inside tumors, the treatment aims to destroy cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissue. The technology has progressed into clinical testing and medical applications.

Can the Brain Help Heal the Body?

Prof. Asya Rolls and her team have uncovered extraordinary connections between the brain and the immune system. Their research shows that activating certain brain circuits can influence immune responses, including those involved in infections and tumors. The findings could open the door to a new generation of therapies that harness the brain’s own power to influence physical health.

From Accidents to Discoveries

Not every breakthrough begins with a carefully planned experiment. In Prof. Tal Carmon’s laboratory, a student accidentally discovered that an ultra-thin sheet of glass could fold when exposed to a laser. That surprise led to “photonic origami,” a technique for creating tiny, intricate optical structures that could eventually find applications in computing and sensing.

And that’s only a glimpse of the imagination at work at TAU. Across disciplines, researchers are investigating how to protect endangered wildlife, understand the origins of human intelligence, develop new life-saving treatments, and find solutions to some of humanity’s toughest challenges.

Now It’s Your Turn to Choose

Seventy years of discoveries raise one very difficult question: Which breakthrough deserves the spotlight? Is it the discovery that could save lives? The technology that could change an entire industry? Or the unexpected finding that completely changed how we see the natural world? As Tel Aviv University celebrates its 70th birthday, we’re inviting our community and friends worldwide to join the celebration and vote for their favorite breakthrough.

Explore the breakthroughs and cast your vote!

Because after 70 years of asking big questions, we’re curious to hear your answer.