Israel Active

Scientists from Tel Aviv and Hebrew Universities have developed a sensor that can detect toxic chemicals. When exposed to a substance, microbes in the chip produce a biochemical reaction, which is then converted into an electronic signal that can be interpreted by a device as “toxic” or “not toxic.”

“because all of their innovation comes from Israel.” George Gilder (technology guru and author of “The Israel Test”) revealed this truth at the ChipEx2012 industry show in Tel Aviv.

Paralysed Claire Lomas finally crossed the finish line of the London Marathon after 16 days. Her Israeli exoskeleton didn’t let her down. Please tell everyone where it was made, as the British TV channel ITV somehow “forgot” to mention it. (A few will have seen it, though, on this fast-moving youtube video.

Two Israeli companies are revolutionising printing technologies, as highlighted at the drupa print media fair in Dusseldorf. Landa has developed super-efficient, high quality nanometric ink. And Objet’s 3D polymer sprays can produce products direct from your printer.

Israel’s Viber Media has launched Blackberry and Windows Phone 7 versions to join its iPhone and Android mobile platforms for free HD-quality phone calls, text and photo messages.

A team from the Savionim middle school in Yahud-Monosson has won first place in the First Lego League International Robotics Competition, held in Orlando Florida. The Israelis developed a sophisticated robot that gave an optimal solution to food quality problems.

JoyTunes, which develops applications for fun music learning, received the United Nations’ “World Summit Award 2011” in a special ceremony held in Cairo, Egypt. JoyTunes was selected from 460 projects and 105 countries that were submitted by regional experts.

So said Dr. E. Williams Colglazier, science and technology adviser to the US secretary of state at Israel Chief Scientist’s Annual Conference for Research and Development, held at Airport City. “Governmental investment in scientific education is the key to facilitating innovation.”

Ormat Technologies – a subsidiary of Israel’s Ormat Industries – has won a $61.2 million deal to provide two air-cooled Ormat Energy Converters for a geothermal power plant project in North America.