ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Universal Flu vaccine gets EU and Japanese patents. The European Union and Japan have granted patents to the universal flu vaccine Multimeric-001 (M-001) developed by Israel’s BiondVax. The ex-Weizmann Institute technology already has patents in the United States, Hong Kong, Australia, China, Russia and Mexico.
The world wakes up to WakeUp. WakeUp is the Israeli-developed natural beverage solution to post-lunch fatigue. WakeUp, from Israel’s Inno-Bev, won the 2014 SupplySide CPG Editors’ Choice Award in the Energy Drink category. http://www.prnewswire.com/
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Electrical circuits using DNA. An international scientific group led by Hebrew University of Jerusalem Professor Danny Porath has made electricity flow through long molecules of four DNA strands. This breakthrough in molecular electronics could lead to a new generation of simpler and cheaper computer circuits.
Helping California combat drought. Professor Eilon Adar, of Ben Gurion University’s Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research (ZIWR), is in California sharing technology and experience of working with scarce water resources. ZWIR specialties include desalination, hydrology, resource economics and water management.
Solar power from trees. (Thanks to Size Doesn’t Matter) The Ramat HaNadiv nature park in Northern Israel contains an unusual tree. The solar powered tree has a brown metal trunk and branches. Its seven broad leaves are solar panels that provide shade, plus energy for electric and USB outlets, chilled water fountains and wi-fi.
Silence on board. There has been quite a lot of “noise” recently about the ‘Quiet Bubble’ technology developed by Israel’s Silentium. It can create quiet zones around aircraft passengers’ heads. The system, based on Active Noise Cancellation, was demonstrated in California and Washington recently.
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Israel in global test of cosmic radiation. Israel is part of a 4-nation project to measure the ionization rate from cosmic radiation at various altitudes up to 35km. Scientists in Israel, England, Russia and Spain will release high-altitude balloons carrying cosmic ray detectors in the first international experiment of its kind.
Shelf life extended by 1500%. An invention by Israel’s Pimi Agro could see the end of world hunger. Pimi has developed a fungicide, based on hydrogen peroxide with additives, that keeps fruit and vegetables fresh for up to 10 weeks. It will prevent the current wastage of one-third of all agricultural produce.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
A $ billion company in the making. Israeli start-up ThetaRay uses complex maths for the early detection of security breaches, enabling the shutdown of systems before damage can be done. Its customers and investors include GE, Hapoalim and Citi. It is in talks with Wells Fargo and Morgan Stanley and has big ambitions.
The Chinese Go4Israel. Hundreds of European and Asian investors looked to Israel for business partnerships at the twelfth annual Go4Europe/Go4Israel conference in Tel Aviv’s Hilton Hotel. This year’s conference focused specifically on strengthening ties between Israel and China.
DNA test for your family tree. Israel-based ancestry research company MyHeritage has joined up with 23andMe, the biotech company that sells personal DNA kits, to enable people to discover their heritage based on genetics testing and documented family history.
