Israeli researchers have developed a synthetic polymer that mimics human skin and can be integrated so that future smartphones will be able to “heal” any scratches or damage, and Texas A&M University, together with the University of Haifa, is launching a marine research center to help mitigate risks associated with offshore oil exploration.

By: Michael Ordman

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Smartphone – heal thyself

A team of Israel Technion researchers including Professor Hossam Haick (famous for the cancer breath test) has developed a synthetic polymer that mimics human skin and can be integrated into flexible devices so that future smartphones will be able to “heal” any scratches or damage.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/coming-soon-iphones-that-can-heal-themselves/
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adma.201504104/full

Marine research station in Haifa

Texas A&M University, in collaboration with the University of Haifa, is launching a $6 million marine research center in February, to help mitigate risks associated with offshore oil exploration.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/texas-am-to-open-6-million-research-center-in-israel/

Israelis win most European research grants

The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded 24 of its 291 early-career starting grants to 24 Israeli researchers – making Israel first place for the number of research grants per capita.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4737045,00.html

Protecting the Internet of Things

Israeli start-up Dojo Labs has developed a stylish pebble-like device, to monitor all data sent by anything connected to the Internet – smart TVs, smartphones, smart tablets, smart refrigerators, even smart water faucets – to determine if they have been hijacked by hackers.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/pebble-like-device-goes-up-against-internet-of-things-hackers/

Israel is a leader in the Internet of Things

Innovation Endeavors, the Venture Capital firm of Google chairman Eric Schmidt, has issued its 2015 Israeli Internet of Things (IoT) Landscape. It concludes that Israeli IoT is booming, especially in Israel’s strength areas of healthcare, life science, ag-tech and cyber security.
http://www.innovationendeavors.com/thoughts/israeli-internet-of-things
http://www.timesofisrael.com/google-founders-vc-fund-sees-big-future-for-israeli-iot-tech/

Anti-AIDS company wins Tech “Oscar”

Israel’s Circ MedTech, developers of PrePex, won the Sutter Health award (part of Applied Materials’ Tech Awards – considered “the Oscars of Silicon Valley”) honoring individuals and companies that use new or existing technology to improve health conditions around the world. The Israeli company is donating the $50,000 cash prize to help fund HIV/AIDS prevention in Africa.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-invention-to-fight-aids-wins-coveted-tech-prize/

Saving power for mobile phones

Israel’s Lucidlogix based in Netanya is the developer of PowerXtend – power-saving technology that extends the battery life of smartphones. Lucidlogix has recently licensed PowerXtend to Meizu, one of the top ten smartphone brands in China.
http://lucidlogix.com/press-release/meizu-to-integrate-lucids-power-saving-technology-in-its-smartphones/

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