Iran destroys Israel's $50 million science treasure, Weizmann Institute, marking one of the war's most costly strikes
The Iran-Israel standoff is steadily worsening over time and is reaching a point of no return. Israel's famous
Weizmann Institute of Science
has been badly damaged by Iran's missile attack. Shortly after Iran issued a terrifying warning to Israel and its allies, the incident happened.
Two buildings and thousands of hours of research, samples, and studies at the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot were destroyed in the strike that took place two days ago, as per a report by the Daily Express.
What kind of research was lost in the strike?
The institute, known for its cutting-edge research in the life sciences, lost over 45 labs and decades of irreplaceable research. This was one of the war's biggest losses in terms of culture and science. Scientists from all over the world have since come together to help the broken school.
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The attack destroyed labs that were studying neurodevelopmental disorders, cancer, and adult heart disease. A life science building is on the list of destroyed buildings. The $50 million "crown jewel" of Israeli science is destroyed in a devastating blow by an Iranian ballistic missile, as per a report by The Daily Express.
"It's completely gone," said Professor Oren Schuldiner, whose lab was destroyed. 'Not a trace. Nothing can be saved.'
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After 16 years of dedication to his lab, Schuldiner has completely lost everything. "This was the life's work of many people," he told The Times of Israel, highlighting how the attack destroyed decades of study.
Why is the Weizmann Institute so important?
The Weizmann Institute is a world-renowned research center that was founded in 1934 and subsequently named after Israel's first president. It boasts three Turing Award winners, one chemistry Nobel laureate, and hundreds of papers published each year by its scholars. Notably, in 1954, the institute invented the first computer in Israel.
The lab successfully restored heart tissue in mice in 2015, and in 2018, they released research that could eventually result in new treatments for cancer, heart disease, stroke, and other conditions. The building is now in ruins, with labs destroyed and windows broken.
According to Sarel Fleishman, a biochemistry professor who visited the location following the strike, many of these labs concentrate on life sciences, with projects that are especially susceptible to physical harm.
Many of the labs' studies in fields like cancer, developmental biology, and tissue generation were now stopped or significantly hampered by the damage.
The lab that studied heart biology was among the approximately forty-five labs that were destroyed.
A professor's lab, which contained 22 years of research and priceless scientific specimens like genetic material and heart tissues, is now in ruins.
"It's very significant damage to the science that they can create and to the contribution they can make to the world."
The institute is a symbol of "Israeli scientific progress" and Iran's attack reflects its mentality, which is that "you harm our scientists, so we are also harming (your) scientific cadre," a professor stated, as per a report.
FAQs
What was destroyed at the Weizmann Institute?
Two major buildings and more than 45 labs, including one dedicated to heart disease and another to neurodevelopmental disorders, were destroyed, along with years of critical research and samples.
Why did Iran target Weizmann Institute?
While the institute represents Israeli scientific progress, analysts believe Iran targeted it in retaliation for previous Israeli actions against Iranian scientists, viewing it as both a symbolic and strategic blow.
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