BGU and PayPal set-up R&D partnership

Online payment system PayPal has established its first-ever partnership with Israeli academia. It has joined with Ben Gurion University to develop big data, machine learning, and cybersecurity solutions that will make payment transactions safer for its 192 million customers.

The art of water conservation in Israel

The California water crisis continues. Californians admire Israel’s solutions and hope they could be applied to their situation.

Saving male chicks from unnecessary slaughter

I reported previously on Israel’s EggDetect that prevents hatching of male chicks - unwanted by the egg industry.  Now there is an alternative – TeraEgg from Israel’s Novatrans. It uses terahertz spectroscopy on gasses that leak from the pores of the egg.

Stimulating drought-resistance in corn

Israel’s Evogene has successfully improved the ability of corn to thrive in drought conditions with its Bio-stimulant products. These produce drought-resistant microbial strains that have produced high yields in their first year of testing.

More fruitful Australian almond trees

China’s Olam group, owner of the largest almond orchard in Australia, has implemented the crop sensor technology from Israel’s Phytech across the entire 5,000 hectares of its five orchards in South-Eastern Australia. The previous season’s 700-hectare trial resulted in higher yields with less water usage.

Intel launches full range of Israeli micro-processors

I reported previously that Intel announced its Israeli-designed and developed 7th generation micro-processor – the Kaby Lake. Now Intel has officially launched the full line of those advanced processors.

A handy bag for wheelchair users

Israeli startup Handy Bag designs and manufactures bags are easy for wheelchair users to access their belongings unaided. Founder Yair Zur was inspired by his wheelchair-bound parents – one a war veteran and one with polio. Yair raised his goal of $20,000 on Kickstarter

Behavior biometrics to protect credit cards

Israel’s Leumi Card will integrate the first-of-its-kind mobile app that uses behavioral biometrics. Based on cutting-edge technology of Israeli startup SecuredTouch, the solution uses finger size, touch pressure, touch surface and more to validate the card owner and eliminate the need to use complex passwords.

Whatever happened to the Ash Poopie?

Newsletter readers may remember that Hebrew University of Jerusalem Professor Oded Shoseyov invented a device for turning dog waste into ash. Israel’s Paulee CleanTec is building the device and its innovative technology into eco-friendly commercial products.

A novel travel guide

Israeli startup “Books on Map” provides readers with virtual tours through a city’s streets by way of novels that reference that city.  Combining library, treasure hunt and social network, it services Paris, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Books on Map won the recent City of Paris tourism app competition.