Israel Active

(News via NoCamels.) Technion-Israel Institute of Technology researchers have now found a new way to generate an electrical field inside quantum dots, making them more suitable for building energy-efficient nano-crystal solar cells rather than the silicon-based cells currently used.

The Israeli government is financing up to 60 percent of 25,000 new refrigerators for low-income people, to encourage use of higher-efficiency appliances that curb both spending and pollution. In 2012, the scheme will extend to air-conditioners, light-bulbs and hopefully TVs, washing machines and boilers.

Spacecom Satellite Communications launched its Amos 5 communications satellite on 11th December from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Spacecom has already signed several multi-million dollar international satellite communications services contracts for the Amos 5.

President Shimon Peres has unveiled an Israeli project to get an unmanned spaceship to the moon by 2014. If all goes according to schedule, Israel will be the third country ever to land a spacecraft on the moon, following the U.S. and Russia.

Last week’s JPost blog, available here if you missed it.

Another trailer for the documentary “Israel Inside.” The full-length film features the country as seen by an Israeli, Dr. Tal Ben Shahar, who returns home to find a far different country than the one he left and discovers how it happened.

Israel’s Modelity Technologies has won Structured Products Magazine's 2011 Technology Innovation award. Modelity develops and markets software for the financial market, combining innovative technology with advanced financial knowledge.

As much as 50 percent of every grain harvest and 100% of every pulse harvest is lost to pests and mould. Israeli-designed GrainPro Cocoons provide a surprisingly simple and cheap way for African and Asian farmers to keep their grain market-fresh. The bags, keep out water and air.

“Israeli start-up Takadu helps Londoners save water” by Katia Moskvitch - Technology reporter, BBC News. Within seconds of a water leak, an alert starts flashing on a remote computer in the tiny office of Takadu - an Israeli start-up in Tel Aviv. Once picked up, the information is transmitted to Thames Water - the utility company responsible for bringing water to Londoners.

Soil research in Israel and Holland has found that fungi often “hitch a ride” on bacteria, whilst the bacteria use fungi to bridge gaps in the soil. The research has relevance to agriculture but also has medical implications for hospitals and inside the human body.