Israel Active

Scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have developed low-cost, lightweight flat lenses – around a thousandth of the thickness of a human hair. They will revolutionize products, such as consumer electronics, cellphones, VR headsets, and drones that need to be as light as possible.

A team from Ariel University won Israel’s first-of-its-kind Mobile Standoff Autonomous Indoor Capabilities )MoSAIC) Challenge. Twenty US & Israeli startups and other organizations participated.

Tel Aviv University Ehud Gazit is the first Israeli to be selected for the International Solvay Chair in Chemistry and the first chemist outside of the US and Europe to be so honored. The Solvay Chair has been won by 15 of the world’s top scientists, including three Nobel laureates.

After several years of research, scientists at Israel’s Weizmann Institute have built Israel’s first quantum computer (see previously). The 5-qubit machine is one of only 30 quantum computers in the world and less than 10 that use ion trap technology.

One of the items transported to the International Space Station was Tel Aviv University’s “Impossible Object” – a 3D sculpture made entirely of water that can only exist in zero gravity and combines art with physics. See also a summary of the 35 Israeli on-board space experiments.

For the second year in row, Israel Nature and Parks Authority reports a sharp increase in the number of sea turtle nests along the Israeli coast. The 449 sites are nearly double that five years prior. The improvement is attributed to fishing bans, and more monitoring.

Israel’s UBQ Materials has won an innovation award in the Speculative Design category at this year’s South by Southwest (SXSW) event. Its recycled waste-derived thermoplastic can be used in the 3D printing industry, which currently relies on non-recycled oil-based thermoplastic.

Israel’s Bright Data (see previously) helps companies gather commercial information on the internet. Its product enables customers to see the internet how they choose. So, a farmer can monitor customers, analyze weather conditions and view consumer sentiment about its products.

Israel’s Brain.Space will test its electroencephalogram (EEG) enabled helmet on astronauts (including Israel’s Eytan Stibbe) on the 3rd April SpaceX shuttle flight to the International Space Station (ISS). It will be the world’s first test of the effect of microgravity on the brain.

Israel’s TankU uses AI and computer vision to monitor vehicles and enable refueling, charging, and washing. At Israel’s Sonol's gas stations, a customer selects to pay through the app, is identified next to the pump or charge point, confirms the operation with a click and then begins refueling. Totally self-service.