Renowned Israeli crystallographer Ada Yonath passed away
- Ada Yonath died on August 31, 2026, at the age of 87.
- Nobel Prize laureate of 2009 for research on ribosomes.
- Her work revealed the atomic structure of ribosomes, accelerating the development of antibiotics.
- The Weizmann Institute announced memorial events and a scholarship.
On August 31, 2026, renowned Israeli scientist-crystallographer Ada E. Yonath passed away at the age of 87. Her death was officially announced by the press service of the Weizmann Institute, where she spent most of her scientific career.
Ada Yonath dedicated several decades to studying ribosomes—complex molecular machines responsible for protein synthesis in living cells. Her work allowed the structure of these organelles to be seen with precision down to individual atoms, opening new possibilities for antibiotic development and understanding drug resistance mechanisms.
The scientific achievements of Yonat received international recognition in 2009 when she, along with American colleagues, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for research on the structure of ribosomes. This was the first time an Israeli scientist was honored with this highest award in the field of chemistry.
The results of her research laid the foundation for modern methods of structural biology, including crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy. Thanks to her work, scientists were able to model the interaction of antibiotics with bacterial ribosomes more accurately, which accelerated the search for new drugs in the fight against infectious diseases.
Contribution to education and international cooperation
In addition to scientific discoveries, Ada Yonath actively participated in training young specialists, led laboratories, and contributed to the development of international scientific projects. Her students continue to work at leading universities and research centers around the world, passing on the knowledge they have gained to new generations.
The death of Yonath is perceived as a significant loss for the global scientific community. Colleagues note her outstanding intellect, perseverance, and ability to overcome technical barriers that had long been considered insurmountable in the field of crystallography of large biomolecules.
The Weizmann Institute announced plans to hold a series of memorial events dedicated to Ada Yonath's contributions to the development of biochemistry and molecular biology, as well as the establishment of a scholarship in her name to support young researchers.
Source: N+1
