An Israeli app finds that ever-elusive parking spot and Israeli scientists crack the wheat genome in another step toward resolving the issue of global hunger.

By: Michael Ordman

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Polly can park your car

Tens of thousands of Israelis have used the Israeli developed app Polly to park their cars in Tel Aviv. It is now being expanded to Jerusalem. Polly uses GPS, crowdsourcing, municipal information and its own algorithm to guide drivers to streets where spaces are more likely to be available.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/polly-wanna-parking-space-israeli-app-says-it-has-the-solution/

Play on computer? Exercise first

Israeli Eylon Porat has built an accessory for his daughter’s computer. It comprises an exercise bike that she has to pedal in order to unlock games on the computer for a certain time period. When she run out of credits the computer locks again until she pedals enough “credits” to unlock it.
http://www.israel21c.org/pedal-to-play-on-computer/

Haifa to be Israel’s first Clean Air Zone City

For the first time in Israel, a Clean Air Zone will be enacted, banning polluting diesel-powered vehicles from areas of Haifa, as part of a five-year plan announced by the Environmental Protection Ministry to reduce air pollution and environmental hazards in the Haifa Bay area.
http://www.sizedoesntmatter.com/green/haifa-clean-air-zone-city/

Wheat genome cracked

It took Israel’s NRGene just 3 months to map out the genome for wild Emmer wheat – a task that had eluded dozens of scientists from 55 countries. It will now be easier to develop varieties of wheat that will thrive in drier, hotter climates and help relieve world hunger.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/start-up-cracks-wheat-genome-in-months-not-years/
http://www.baltimorejewishlife.com/news/news-detail.php?SECTION_ID=37&ARTICLE_ID=63336

3 Olympiad medals for Israeli high school chemists

Three members of Team Israel won bronze medals at the oldest (and perhaps toughest) high school competition – the International Chemistry Olympiad, held in Baku, Azerbaijan. Teams used chemicals to synthesize material and identify unknown elements.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-team-wins-3-bronzes-at-veteran-chemistry-contest/

Tinned tuna in low sodium brine

Israel’s Salt of the Earth has successfully reduced the sodium content of canned tuna by 35% with its new Umami Essence ingredient – a proprietary, natural liquid formula derived from vegetables and sea salt. In trials, the taste was indistinguishable from ordinary tuna in brine.
http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/case-study-how-to-reduce-sodium-and-keep-the-taste-521237121.html

Israeli wind farms in Ireland

Enlight Renewable Energy (part of Israel’s Eurocom Group) has just closed a deal worth 24 million Euros to build a 14MW windfarm in Ireland and more are planned. Ireland is aiming to generate 40pc of all its electricity from renewable sources by 2020.
http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/israeli-firm-eyes-more-windfarms-after-24m-irish-deal-31450154.html

The ultimate altruism app

Only in Israel would a startup develop an app that connects people who want help with those who wish to give help. Angels Nearby uses a search engine to connect people based on the type of help needed, “trust level” (everyone, Facebook friends only, friends of friends), and location.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/altruism-app-seeks-to-bring-out-the-best-in-users/

Click here for all of this week’s Good News from Israel.

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