Archive for Innovations & Discoveries

| September 11, 2013
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NEW: Tel Aviv-Jaffa launches free Wi-Fi network city-wide

Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai: Free Wi-Fi project is 2nd to none in size &  scope as Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality sets up dozens of free Wi-Fi hot spots at commercial streets, shopping centers,  parks & beaches.

By Yehuda Shlezinger and Ilan Gattegno

 

Tel Aviv, the city that never sleeps, is now making sure its residents and visitors can stay connected to the Internet at all times. The Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality has established 60 free Wi-Fi hot spots around the city, covering a total of 3.6 square kilometers (1.4 square miles), including shopping centers, main commercial streets, parks and beaches.

A sunbather can now read ‘Israel and Stuff’ on a Tel Aviv beach – Photo: Yehoshua Yosef

The network was set up by Motorola Solutions Israel after winning the tender from the municipality.

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Category: Innovations & Discoveries, Israel News | Tags: ,
| September 11, 2013
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Israeli Archaeologist says on Historic Moment: ‘I was Paralyzed’

Third generation archaeologist Dr. Eilat Mazar talks about the moment of awe when she first uncovered the huge golden menorah medallion.

By Adam Ross

 

Archaeologist Dr. Eilat Mazar, who unearthed what is widely considered one of Israel’s greatest historical finds, has been speaking to Arutz Sheva about the emotional moment of the discovery.

In summer excavations at the foot of the Temple Mount, Mazar unearthed two bundles of treasure containing thirty-six gold coins, gold and silver jewelry as well as a gold medallion with the menorah (Temple candelabrum) symbol etched into it. Also etched into the 10-cm. medallion are a shofar (ram’s horn) and the image of a Torah scroll.  

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| September 11, 2013
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‘Cyber-defense Army’ will help battalion commanders in the field win next war

 

Within seconds to a minute of the acquisition of target information, it will appear on the DGA map, giving field commanders a full over view of the unfolding situation.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN

 

Battalion commanders in the infantry are expected to play decisive roles in future wars, and as such, the army is equipping them with a revolutionary command-and-control system that will give them more independence over their battle arenas than ever before, a senior military source told The Jerusalem Post this week.

An officer speaks on the phone at the new IDF cyber-defense control center.

An officer speaks on the phone at the new IDF cyber-defense control center. – Photo: IDF Spokesman’s Office

The system, called Digital Ground Army (DGA), generates and updates a computer map of all army and enemy locations in a given area.

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Category: Innovations & Discoveries, Israel News | Tags: ,
| September 11, 2013
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Israelis perform more work-hours than counterparts in West

 

Latest Taub Center study publicizes new revelations on primary factors underlying Israel’s low labor productivity, cumbersome bureaucracy, longer working day and low capital investments.

Ynetnews

Israel’s labor productivity is among the lowest among developed countries, as shown in the soon to be published 2013 State of the Nation report by the Taub Center for Social Policy Studies in Israel. In addition, a labor productivity gap has been growing between the leading Western countries and Israel – with the G7 steadily pulling away from Israel since the 1970s.

Wages are highly dependent on the amount produced per hour – or what is commonly referred to as labor productivity. Continue Reading »

Category: Innovations & Discoveries, Israel News | Tags:
| September 10, 2013
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7th century coins & jewelry discovered at foot of Temple Mount

36 gold coins, silver & gold jewelry, and a gold medallion, etched with the Temple menorah, shofar & Torah scroll were among the discoveries.

The gold medallion was likely was a Torah scroll ornament.

By JTA

 

JERUSALEM — Gold and silver coins and jewelry dated from the seventh century were discovered at an excavation at the foot of the Temple Mount, Hebrew University researchers said.

7th century AD dated Gold medallion bearing a Temple menorah, shofar and Torah scroll found at Temple Mount, Jerusalem.

The discovery of the two bundles of treasure at the Temple Mount’s southern wall, at the Ophel excavation site, was announced Monday by the researchers.

The artifacts can be dated to the late Byzantine period, or early seventh century CE.

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Category: Innovations & Discoveries, Israel News | Tags: ,
| September 1, 2013
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Watch Israel’s Amos IV satellite successful night-launch

 

Israel’s fourth satellite launches this evening from Kazakhstan. It joins 3 other Israeli satellites, which are still operational.

By Ynet

The satellite Amos 4, operated by the Israeli company Spacecom, has been launched into space from Kazakhstan on Saturday.

Amos IV launch – 31 Aug 2013

The satellite joins Spacecom’s Amos 5, 2 and 3, which are already operational in space. Amos 6 is expected to be space-ready in 2014.

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The satellite is carrying sophisticated communication equipment that allows it to function as a remote transmission and broadcast hub. Continue Reading »

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| August 23, 2013
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Israeli among MIT’s top 35 global innovators under 35

 

 

At 26, Technion graduate Kira Radinsky, Ph.D., is on MIT’s list of the world’s 35 brightest young innovators. Others on list were Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg & Google founders Larry Page & Sergey Brin.

By Lior El-Chai

 

 

Dr. Kira Radinsky, 26, completed her Ph.D. this year at the Technion, and has already been selected from among hundreds of candidates and placed on the list of the world’s Top 35 Innovators Under 35 for “being an exceptional inventor and for her leading work in the area of programming.”

Dr. Kira Radinsky - Photo Technion Spokesperson's Office

Dr. Kira Radinsky – Photo: Technion Spokesperson’s Office

The list is put together by the MIT Technology Review. Continue Reading »

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| August 19, 2013
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‘Palestinian’ Hacked Zuckerberg’s Facebook Account

After Facebook ignored his glitch discovery when reported, Palestinian computer expert Khalil Shreateh, demonstrated his point by hacking CEO Marc Zuckerberg’s personal page leaving him a message.

By Kochava Rozenbaum

 

A skilled computer hacker from the Palestinian Authority, Khalil Shreateh, found a dangerous glitch in the privacy sector of Facebook. Yet, after his warnings were generally ignored by Facebook, Shreateh took matters up with the CEO of the company, Mark Zuckerberg, by breaking the rules and posting on Zuckerbergs’s wall, reported the Daily Mail

Facebook - Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

Facebook illustrative – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

The native Arabic speaker wrote to the Facebook security team: “My name is Khalil Shreateh. Continue Reading »

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| August 18, 2013
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First Temple Era Pottery Found in City of David

The archaeologists who discovered the pottery shards with writing dating back 2,700 years say the find sheds more light on life in Jerusalem during the period of the First Temple.

By Shlomo Pyutrokovski

 

Archaeologists working in the Mayan Gihon area in the City of David in Jerusalem have discovered many ancient artifacts, including pottery shards, clay candle holders, and figurines dating back to the times of the First and Second Temples.

The pottery shard – Courtesy of Israel Antiquities Authority

One recently discovered item has aroused particular interest: a pottery shard dating back to the First Temple period that includes part of a phrase etched into its rim. Continue Reading »

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| August 16, 2013
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Rare, Preserved 8th Century BCE Fortifications Found at Ashdod Harbor

An amazing find by the Institute of Archaeology at Tel Aviv University  uncovered a system of fortifications during this summer’s excavation.

By Kochava Rozenbaum

 

Rare and unique discoveries were found this summer at the Tel Aviv University Institute of Archaeology excavation site in Tel Ashdod-Yam – located in the harbor city of Ashdod.

The institute uncovered a system of fortifications which date back to the 8th century BCE, the remains of buildings, as well as coins and weights from the Hellenistic period.

The excavations were the first of the season and were led by Dr. Alexander Fantalkin. He discovered the remains of a kind of anchorage, a massive wall made up of mud bricks which form embankments. Continue Reading »

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| August 14, 2013
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2 Hebrew U. of J’lem grads on “AI’s 10 to Watch” list

 

 

Dr. Ariel Procaccia & Dr. Aviv Zohar of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, have just been named among Artificial intelligence’s 10 to Watch by IEEE Intelligent Systems magazine.

By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH

 

Published biennially, the list chooses 10 researchers who are rising stars in the field.Artificial intelligence (AI) is a branch of computer science that studies and develops intelligent machines and software. First coined as a term way back in 1955 – before computers – AI is defined as the study and design of intelligent agents, which are systems that recognize where they are and make moves to maximize their chances of success.

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| August 13, 2013
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Israeli volunteers in Nepal find solution to extend life expectancy

Israeli volunteers suggest unique solution to extend current low life expectancy of  inhabitants in rural Nepal.

By Yossi Aloni

 

Dozens of Israeli volunteers, including Israeli Ambassador in Kathmandu, Hanan Goder, recently visited a remote village in Nepal where inhabitants typically die at a young age and found an original way to instead give them long and healthy lives.

Israeli volunteers help Nepalese extend life expectancy

Behind the project is the Israeli humanitarian organization Tevel b’Tzedek (The Earth – In Justice), which every years picks about 100 Israeli and Jewish volunteers from around the world to come to Nepal for educational programs and humanitarian work.

The organization has been operating for the past four years in the impoverished village of Mahda Besi, providing training in the fields of agriculture, women’s empowerment, youth and education, and health and sanitation. Continue Reading »

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| August 7, 2013
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Researchers: Smokers motivated by instant gratification & risk taking

Working together, researchers from both the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Haifa’s Technion found that smokers are mainly motivated by an urge for instant gratification.

By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH
 

 

Researchers have been puzzled over the years why smokers – who well know their habit endangers their health and that nicotine is addictive – often don’t want to stop. It has long been thought they have a risk-taking personality that dismisses the danger of cigarettes.

Woman smokes a cigarette

Woman smokes a cigarette – Photo: Daniel Munoz/Reuters

Around 22 percent of Israeli adults smoke, and 10,000 die of direct and passive smoking in an average year.

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| August 7, 2013
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President gives 2013 Israel Defense Prize for ‘technological developments’

 

 

Peres & Ya’alon awardes 16 prizes for developments that bolster Israeli defense.

President Shimon Peres said: ‘We are proud of your achievements, count on your ability to produce deterrence capabilities that are on par with security challenges of the future,’

Noam (Dabul) Dvir

President Shimon Peres and Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon awarded the Israel Defense Prize on Tuesday at the Presidential Residence in Jerusalem.

A 2011 winner, the Calanit shell

A 2011 winner, the Calanit shell

Also present were IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz and senior officials with the defense establishment.

The award ceremony, held this year for the 56th time, awarded those whose work has contributed to State security, both in terms of technology and in terms of combat operations. Continue Reading »

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| August 6, 2013
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Tel Aviv launches its first electric bus

Maintenance costs for the Chinese-built electric bus are 25% lower than the regular diesel buses and energy costs are about a 1/3.

Dan bus company plans to replace a 1/4 of its fleet with electric buses over the next 5 years at a cost of NIS 400 million ($112.6 million).

By Shlomo Diaz

 

 

The Dan bus company rolled out its first electric bus on Tuesday as part of its campaign to replace some of its current diesel-powered fleet with fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly buses.

The energy costs of the Chinese-built electric bus are one-third those of its diesel counterpart – Phot: KOKO

“Today marks the beginning of a new era in public transportation,” Dan Chairman Michael Nagar and CEO Shmuel Rafaeli said in a joint statement at the inauguration ceremony in Tel Aviv on Monday. Continue Reading »

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