Israel Active

The vaccination rate among Israeli children is among the world’s highest and the availability of free immunization is among the best the world, the Health Ministry announced during World Immunization Week. About 95 percent of babies and children receive routine vaccinations at well-baby clinics.

The amazing technology of Israel’s StoreDot has sent smartphone users worldwide into wild excitement. The youtube demo has had over 2.5 million viewers.

Israel will import 1000 mini electric cars for a one-year pilot project to evaluate incorporating them into Israel's municipal traffic. During the August pilot, the general public will be able to buy the 400kg cars from select dealerships approved by the Ministry of Transportation.

(Thanks to Israel21c) Israeli company Yofi Shel Yerakot (Beauty of Vegetables) has grown a variety of cucumbers that can be sliced into shapes such as hearts and stars. The all-year-round vegetables are great for catering parties as well as getting children interested in healthy foods.

Israel’s Opgal Optronic has launched Therm-App, which converts Android mobile devices into powerful thermal cameras. For security monitoring, rescue operations, tracing leaky pipes, inspecting faulty machinery, or medical and vetinary diagnostics.

A disabled green sea turtle named Hofesh (“freedom” in Hebrew) can now swim again thanks to industrial design student Shlomi Gez. Shlomi built Hofesh a dual fin based on the design of Lockheed Martin's supersonic F-22 'Raptor' jet fighter.

Israel’s Science and Technology Ministry, in conjunction with the Prime Minister’s Office and Keren Hayesod - UIA, is running its second annual competition for Innovation in Alternative Fuels for Transportation. The prize will be awarded in December.

Israeli solar energy developer Arava Power Company has inaugurated six solar fields in the Arava and Negev, generating a total of 36 megawatts of electricity. Arava Power was the first company to inaugurate a solar field in Israel, which supplies 9 million kilowatt/hours of power annually to the grid.

Jerusalem-based Zuta Labs is developing the Zuta Pocket Printer – a tiny robot print head that can move around on a page and print documents at 1 page per minute. Zuta has reached its kickstarter goal of $400,000 funding but you can still pledge to pocket one for $200.

No Chileans died in the tsunami caused by the recent 8.2-level earthquake, thanks to the automatic alerts sent by the geo-targeted notification system developed by Israel’s eVigilo. The system was installed after 400 Chileans died in an earthquake and tsunami in 2010.