Israel Active

Here is an interview featuring Jonathan Geiffman – co-founder and CEO of Israel’s Helios (see previously) explaining his company’s process for extracting oxygen from the surface of the Moon and Mars. Space exploration could be dependent on this technology.

The Chicago-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat chose Tel Aviv’s ToHa skyscraper as the overall winner in the office building category of its 18th annual awards program. The 2019 28-story tower by Israeli architect Ron Arad is shaped like an iceberg.

The National Geographic Society has named Haifa University marine conservationist Aviad Scheinin one of 2021’s 15 “Emerging Explorers”. These are individuals who are changing the world “one idea at a time.” He joins the ranks of dedicated scientists that included Jacques Cousteau.

Israel’s Seevix Material Sciences has developed SVX - synthetic spider silk fibers that are five times stronger than high tensile steel but only one-fifth the weight. SVX was genetically engineered using a unique DNA sequence plus a fermentation process using bacteria, sugar, yeast and water.

In the land of Milk and Honey, Israel’s Bee-io Honey is developing cultured honey in the laboratory. It uses natural nectar and an “artificial bee stomach,” to simulate the enzymatic activity, conditions and processes that occur in the bee’s stomach. Bee-io Honey has just listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.

Israel’s Materials Zone (see previously) has developed a smart AI platform for discovering new innovative compounds. It analyzes research data to help develop glass that makes electricity, low carbon concrete, personal X-ray filters and so many applications than cannot yet be imagined.

Israel’s Canario has developed two smart wearable devices to help protect staff from viruses and contamination. The Canario Proximity will identify anyone who was within 2 meters of an infected person so that they can be quarantined. The other device detects air pollutants and radiation.

Damage caused by Red Palm Weevils is monumental.  Scientists at Israel’s Ben Gurion University used Artificial Intelligence to recognize healthy palm trees and infested trees from Google Aerial and Street View images. Their work could save millions of palm trees.

Israel’s Arugga is developing an autonomous robot for treating and monitoring individual plants in greenhouses. Its first module - TRATA - is a robotic pollinator for greenhouse-grown tomatoes. It recognizes pollination-ready flowers and applies calibrated air pulses to the selected flower.

Israel’s Classi turns any TV into a remove education platform. Download the software onto any Android TV converter (costing less than $100). Add a web camera and an optional keyboard and mouse and your TV becomes a laptop alternative that provides Zoom, YouTube, Word and Excel.