GOOD NEWS FROM AMAZING ISRAEL: MICHAEL ORDMAN
www.verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com
http://blogs.jpost.com/users/just-look-us-now
· Israeli scientists have developed the basis for an artificial retina.
· Israeli paramedics saved a Palestinian Arab baby who suffered a heart attack.
· Per-capita, Israel is the world’s largest contributor to the fight against Ebola.
· An Israeli startup has developed a portable solar power generator.
· Israel has made large reductions to the prices of electricity, water and gasoline.
· Low cost airline easyJet is starting a Paris to Tel Aviv service.
· 2014 saw 26,500 new immigrants to Israel – the highest in a decade.
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Breakthrough in development of artificial retinas. Scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv University have developed a wireless, light-sensitive, flexible implantable film that mimics the function of the photosensitive cells in the retina. It could potentially form part of a device to replace a damaged retina.
http://new.huji.ac.il/en/article/24287
Cell analysis system makes first discovery. Professor Itai Yanai of Israel’s Technion developed the CEL-Seq cell analysis method in 2012, identifying the on-off status of each of the 20,000 genes in a cell. It has just been used to determine embryonic development sequences and could help in understanding how cancer develops.
3D compass in the brain. Scientists at Israel’s Weizmann Institute have demonstrated that brains of mammals (including humans) contain a 3D compass. Microelectrode recordings revealed that certain neurons activate only when the head is at a particular 3D angle. It explains conditions such as vertigo and disorientation.
http://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/3d-compass-in-the-brain#.VKgjBckpqSo
Parkinson’s treatment trials success. Israel’s NeuroDerm has announced positive results for its Phase II trials of ND0612H, intended for severe Parkinson’s disease patients. The results indicate that ND0612H may provide an effective alternative therapy to current treatments requiring surgery.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-neuroderm-soars-on-positive-parkinsons-phase-ii-results-1000997231
Personalized medical videos. (Thanks to Israel21c) Israeli physician Dr. Rami Cohen has developed a proprietary platform for healthcare workers to easily create personalized instructional videos for patients. Telesofia Medical uses clips and graphics to generate videos in the time it takes to produce a prescription.
http://www.israel21c.org/headlines/a-cure-for-medical-misunderstandings/
Beit Issie launches disabilities tech center. On Dec 3rd (International Disabilities Day) Beit Issie Shapiro – Israel’s leading organization for developing therapies for disabled children – launched its Technology Consulting Center, to share its expertise in the field of disabilities and technology. Also, an amazing video.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Oxford Uni launches British-Israeli water initiative. Professor Andrew Hamilton, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, launched the British Council in Israel’s Water Research Initiative, to fund opportunities for researchers from Britain and Israel to work with researchers in countries facing water challenges.
http://www.britishcouncil.org.il/en/programmes/science/water-research
An astronaut’s view of Israel. Some crystal-clear photos of Israel from the International Space Station. It received over 33,000 likes.
http://israelseen.com/2014/12/27/israel-seen-from-an-astronauts-view-and-tel-aviv-marina/
https://www.facebook.com/ISS/posts/903867382979527
Portable solar power. (Thanks to SDM and NoCamels.com) Israel’s Kalisaya has developed the KaliPAK – a portable renewable power solution. It generates solar energy that can be used by campers and trekkers or as an emergency backup generator in case of natural disasters. Kalisaya is hoping to raise £250,000 on Kickstarter.
Portable Solar Energy Backpack KaliPAK Is The Ultimate Gadget For The Great Outdoors
KeyBoots finds work for extended holidays. (Thanks to Israel21c) Israelis enjoy traveling. So it was natural for Moshik Cohen to develop KeyBoots (a play on words similar to Kibbutz). Now when backpackers run out of funds, Keyboots can help them get food and accommodation in exchange for voluntary work.
http://www.israel21c.org/headlines/how-to-extend-your-holiday-without-paying-a-dime/
The pocket printer is on the move. Here is a new video of the portable robot printer from Israel’s ZUtA Labs. ZUtA expects to start shipping the printer in June.
TwitterMate – just for the important messages. Tomer Simon, a Ph.D. student at Ben Gurion University’s Department of Emergency Medicine, has developed a system called TwitterMate, a tool for archiving and classifying information on social media. It records specific hashtags, users or subjects for later analysis.
http://aabgu.org/twittermate-helps-filter-endless-flow-tweets/
Israel’s most outstanding public building. Tel Aviv University’s Capsule Building received 1st place (in the public buildings category) at the Israeli Association of Builders’ Excellence Awards. The building was chosen for its design, quality and compatibility to the local environment.
http://en-environment.tau.ac.il/news/1st_place_award
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Cheaper electricity, water and gasoline. Israel’s electricity rate is being cut by 9.4% with effect from January thanks to the natural gas from the Tamar reservoir. Water rates are being reduced by 10% effective from 1st Jan 2015. Gasoline prices were also cut by 10%.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-94-electricity-rate-cut-set-for-january-1-1000995721
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-water-rates-to-fall-10-in-january-1000993091
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-gasoline-prices-to-fall-nis-063-wednesday-night-1000997245
Mutual support between Indiana and Israel. US State of Indiana’s Governor Mike Pence undertook a nine-day trip to Israel, which included an “economic development mission to bring jobs and investment to Indiana.” Governor Pence expressed his view that support for Israel in the US has never been stronger.
Zaatar chocolate wins international gold. Israel’s Ika Cohen shared a gold medal at the International Chocolate Awards in London. Ika Chocolate’s zaatar truffle won a joint gold medal in the “flavored dark ganaches and truffles” section of the competition.
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Culture/Israeli-chocolatier-takes-gold-at-international-competition-with-zaatar-truffle-383380
Strengthening Indo-Israeli ties. Experts at the seventh India Israel Forum – the Indo-Israel Innovation Colloquium in Mumbai – explored further ties between the two nations in innovation, information technology, healthcare, water technology, renewable energy, wellness and engineering sectors.
http://www.financialexpress.com/article/pharma/latest-updates/indo-israel-innovation-colloquium-discusses-strategic-business-opportunities/19778/
Making it “easy” to fly from France to Israel. Low cost carrier easyJet plc will launch a new direct route between Tel Aviv Ben Gurion airport and Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, starting 30th March 2015. Ticket prices for the flights on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays start from 45.99 Euros one-way.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-easyjet-to-launch-tel-aviv-paris-flights-1000993822
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Sarona – Tel Aviv’s newest leisure and culture oasis. Just across from Tel Aviv’s Azrieli towers, the former German Templer colony of Sarona has been revitalized and landscaped to include playgrounds and parks. 33 residences dating from 1871 have been renovated and converted into eateries, upscale shops and art galleries.
Recycling is a “hit” with Israelis. This youtube film promoting awareness of recycling in Israel by the Tamir recycling corporation has had almost 900,000 views. No wonder – it features some phenomenally accurate precision ways to dispose of recyclable containers and plastic bottles.
http://www.jpost.com/Not-Just-News/YouTube-recycling-video-goes-viral-in-Israel-383043
Music and food bring peace to Jerusalem. Watch 2000 young Jews and Arabs gathering together at November’s “Simply Singing” event in Jerusalem. In addition to the music, poetry and dancing, two chefs, one Arab-Israeli, the other Jewish-Israeli worked together to create fusion dishes that reflected both cultures.
But is it art? Jerusalem’s annual winter festival, “Hamshushalayim,” which takes place over four consecutive weekends, includes an unusual exhibition displayed among supermarket shelves. The exhibition, “Mivtza” (“sale” in Hebrew), seeks to examine the meeting between modern art and a familiar daily space.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4608538,00.html
Hollywood movie of Israeli’s jungle survival. US actor Kevin Bacon is to star in “Jungle” based on the true story of Israeli adventurer Yossi Ghinsberg, who was lost in the Amazon rainforest for three weeks in 1981. “Back to Tuichi” was one of Israel’s most popular books in the 1990s. It has been translated into 15 languages.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4598130,00.html
THE JEWISH STATE
Underwater village discovered near Haifa. (Thanks to David and Israel21c) A water well that may be the oldest wooden structure ever found, and the oldest evidence of an ancient olive-oil industry, are among the preserved remains of a prehistoric village discovered underwater by Israeli researchers off the coast of Haifa.
http://www.israel21c.org/headlines/divers-find-prehistoric-village-beneath-the-sea-near-haifa/
Aliya at highest level for a decade. Around 26,500 new immigrants arrived in Israel in 2014 marking a 32% increase over last year and a ten-year high. Nearly 7,000 French arrived – more than double the 3,400 in 2013. Immigration from the Ukraine increased by 190% to 5,840 in 2014.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/189334
Take the Israel Course. Explore Israel’s past and future with “The Israel Course” a 7-Part film series designed to reinforce your understanding of Israel’s history and future. Be pro-active in Israel’s miraculous narrative. http://www.theisraelcourse.com/unitedwithisrael/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJmja7T2gzw
The great escape. Three rare white rhinos at Israel’s Ramat Gan Safari took advantage of a dozing guard and an open gate to explore the safari’s car park. Fortunately, Rhianna and her friends couldn’t find a suitable vehicle in which to make a complete getaway. (They should have chosen a Range Rover or Nissan Prairie!)
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Culture/Rihanna-the-rhino-escapes-the-Ramat-Gan-Safari-386426
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