Israel Active

Israel’s MyZeppi has developed technology designed to help older adults and their caregivers “visit” each other through video calls via safe and unthreatening self-flying helium balloons. The 20-inch projection lets seniors feel their loved ones are there in their room and can even perform safety checks.

Israel’s Preciate has developed a facial recognition system called “Pay by Face”. A user registers with a selfie photo and uses the system to pay for goods and services. In use at Holon’s Azrieli Mall, it is relevant to fast food takeaways, stores with membership programs or just to acknowledge good customers.

Israel’s Caring Company has launched a new app, CaringApp, to provide remote support and assistance to family members and relatives of the elderly. It can monitor and identify life-saving moments such as alerts to falling, mood monitoring, and inactivity. It can even interact with the senior’s phone.

Israel’s Morphisec was preventing cyber attacks on a million computers and mobile users. Its shape-shifting software now outwits sophisticated hackers on 4 million computers worldwide. System managers are amazed that it works in the background, without making a fuss.

Scientists at Ben Gurion University have discovered that plants in desert regions grow hair on their leaves when they are short of the essential element phosphorus. The hairs trap dust in the desert air, which contains naturally occurring phosphorus. The dust can replace harmful chemical fertilizers.

Hebrew University of Jerusalem researchers have found a new species of bee, joining the approximately 1,100 bee species known to live in Israel. The bee was discovered in the Alexander River National Park, which was established to reverse the effects of road construction and pollution on the area.

During March, drones from Israel’s Blue White Robotics (reported previously) transported pollen to date palm trees’ flower stigmata. 90% of the trees were successfully fertilized. Due to lack of labor during the pandemic, the system has been successfully marketed to New York and California farmers.

Israel Chemicals Ltd is to build a 5.5 MW solar power plant to supply energy to its Dead Sea Periclase magnesium production facility. ICL will test storing excess solar energy in bromine-based batteries and plans to install solar systems at other production sites and on its water reservoirs.

Israel’s BreezoMeter (reported previously) has been integrated into the Weather app on Apple iPhones as part of the new iOS 14.3 update. BreezoMeter’s sensors and data feeds provide real-time, street-level air quality data including air pollution, pollen, and smoke from nearby fires.

Ben Gurion University scientists are growing coral nurseries five times faster than natural coral production. These are then transplanted into the Red Sea and become floating coral islands. BGU is also partnering scientists in the Florida Keys, to grow coral tissue resilient to rising ocean temperatures. (1hr webinar)