Israel Active

Scientists at Israel’s Technion have discovered a desert plant that uses a “mustard bomb” toxin to induce mice to spit out its seeds and help the plant germinate. Taily weed, is the first known single species using “directed deterrence” to have itself eaten by an animal that will spread its seeds.

Samsung’s latest smartphone uses security software from Israel’s Discretix. It is also reported to use the innovative wireless recharging system developed by Israel’s Powermat.

Professor Dani Zamir of Jerusalem’s Hebrew University was a key member of an International team of scientists that has decoded the 35,000 genes that comprise the genome of the tomato. The project began in 2003 and benefits will include improving the nutrition, taste and yield of this important plant.

Haifa’s Dor Chemicals is manufacturing a fuel called M15 – which is 85-percent benzene and 15% methanol – to be used in an upcoming six-month pilot program. This will determine if a methanol mixture can provide a more environmentally friendly, less expensive fuel with no changes to cars or the pumps.

(thanks to Israel21c) Great article about the water filtration systems developed by Kibbutz Amiad, where my cousin works. Amiad’s filtration and treatment technologies bring clean water to industries, households and farms in 70 countries.

Cambridge Professor Sir Richard Friend talks about his research and relationship with Israel’s Technion.

Head of national economic council Professor Eugene Kandel revealed to Israeli ministers that more than 100 alternative energies start-up companies are active in Israel today, in addition to 100 university-based research groups.

Israel’s Technion patented a breakthrough technique that improves tenfold the performance of any type of sophisticated microscope and imaging system. It brings about the ability to view dynamically changing molecules smaller than the wavelength of light.

Guangzhou, located in China’s Pearl River Delta, isn’t the kind of setting in which one would expect to find a demonstration centre for Israel’s Better Place electric vehicle. But it is ideally positioned - just across the road from the largest auto mall in southern China.

There are more Jewish social innovators in Israel’s capital city than in any other city in the world.