Israeli Nobel laureate Ada Yonath, pioneering ribosome researcher, dies at 87

The Weizmann Institute of Science announced that Professor Ada Yonath, the prominent Israeli scientist whose research on the ribosome earned her the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, has died at the age of 87. Yonath, a professor in the institute’s Department of Chemical and Structural Biology, spent decades studying the ribosome, the cellular machinery responsible for protein production. Her work was instrumental in understanding how antibiotics interact with ribosomes, providing critical insights for combating drug-resistant bacteria. Professor Alon Chen, President of the Weizmann Institute, described Yonath as an exceptional scientist who pursued paths others deemed impossible with courage and determination. According to Chen, she remained scientifically active, continuing her research and collaborations until her final days. In addition to the Nobel Prize, Yonath was a recipient of the Israel Prize and was recognized globally as one of Israel's most distinguished scientists.