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Israel21c

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Photo collage, from left: a dolphin by Hagai Nativ/Morris Kahn Marine Research, University of Haifa; Pinwheel Galaxy by Travis Deyoe/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter, University of Arizona; and a crow by Rudmer Zwerver via Shutterstock.
Innovation
24 incredible scientific discoveries made in 2024 
By Zachy Hennessey
A healthy reef site in the southern Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba. Photo by Meron Segev
Earth
Damaged coral reefs benefit from ecosystem transplant
By John Jeffay
Lower back pain affects around 619 million people worldwide. Photo by Kindel Media via pexels
Innovation
Biotech startup aims to tackle chronic back pain
By Zachy Hennessey
Professor Hagit Messer-Yaron. Photo courtesy of Tel Aviv University
Innovation
Israeli scientist nabs ‘Nobel Prize’ of engineering
By Yulia Karra
Niv Sultan, left, and Hugh Laurie appear in a poster for the third season of 'Tehran' by Kan public broadcaster and Apple TV. Photo courtesy Kan
Life
Everything we know about Tehran Season 3 (so far)
By Nicky Blackburn
Ethiopian Jews take part in a prayer for the annual Sigd holiday at the Armon Hanatziv Promenade overlooking Jerusalem on November 28, 2024. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90
Life
7 things you didn’t know about Sigd in Israel
By Zachy Hennessey
A closeup of a CPU (central processing unit). Photo by Pok Rie from Pexels
Innovation
4 top quantum computing companies
By Zachy Hennessey
Swish Ventures founder Omri Casspi. Photo by Ilya Melnikov
Innovation
NBA star’s Swish Ventures nets $60m seed fund for Israeli AI
By Zachy Hennessey
Sivan Shefer, a graduate of the Restart program of Kolot, with Marshmallow the goat. Photo courtesy of Sivan Shefer
Life
Israelis from shattered communities turn to innovation
By Abigail Klein Leichman
Image by HeungSoon from Pixabay
Innovation
Converge Bio brings GenAI to drug discovery
By John Jeffay
12-year-old Dafna Filshteiner with the Egyptian amulet. Photo by Emil Aladjem/Israel Antiquities Authority
Life
Israeli girl discovers ancient Egyptian scarab on hike
By Nicky Blackburn
Image by Michael Reichelt via Pixabay
Earth
Bees in Tel Aviv get a rehome
By Zachy Hennessey
Power Saber from Goliath Games and Nextoy earned its inventor, Yair Shilo, Toy Innovator of the Year 2024 in the Toy & Game Innovation Excellence Awards. Photo courtesy of Goliath Games
Innovation
Power Saber inventor wins Toy Innovator of the Year  
By Abigail Klein Leichman
Photo by Drazen Zigic via Shutterstock
Innovation
22 fabulous gifts for Christmas and Hanukkah
By Yulia Karra and Nicky Blackburn
Sabra fruit grows on a healthy prickly cactus tree in Israel. Photo by Rostislav Glinsky, via Shutterstock
Earth
The man who helped save Israel’s sabra plants from extinction
By Nicky Blackburn
An Airbus 320-200 takes off from Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. Photo by Felix Tchvertkin, via Shutterstock
Travel
Airlines flying to Israel now and those returning soon
By Zachy Hennessey
A parking lot for electric buses in Bnei Brak, Israel. Photo by Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90
Earth
Israel to introduce self-driving buses on public roads
By Yulia Karra

INNOVATION

An illustration of data privacy. Photo generated by Kling AI
Innovation
Do you have the right to be forgotten online?
By Zachy Hennessey
Can gut bacteria be the key to less anxiety? Photo by Edward Jenner via Pexels
Innovation
Decoding your bacterial language could cure anxiety
By Yulia Karra
The Verbit management team. Photo by Udi Alderoty
Innovation
5 Israel-linked companies listed on Fast Company Next Big Things list
By Abigail Klein Leichman
Photo courtesy of Own
Innovation
Salesforce acquires Israeli startup for $1.9b.
By Zachy Hennessey
Prof. Ronit Satchi-Fainaro from Tel Aviv University’s Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences. Photo courtesy Tel Aviv University
Innovation
Researchers develop breakthrough Covid-19 vaccine
By Nicky Blackburn
A closeup of a hornet. Photo by Skyler Ewing via Pexels
Earth
Booze-proof hornets could hold key to studying alcoholism
By Zachy Hennessey
EdgeMed’s managing partners, from left: Noam Taichler, Shai Policker and Gal Atarot. Photo by Roi Mizrachi Studio
Innovation
New VC identifies unmet healthcare needs
By John Jeffay
Image by TheDigitalArtist on Pixabay.com
Innovation
New report shows Israel is world-class AI powerhouse
By John Jeffay
OCON Therapeutics’ intrauterine drug delivery technology platform. Photo courtesy of OCON Therapeutics
Innovation
New drug-delivery stent could revolutionize women’s health 
By Yulia Karra
Music production software. Photo by Pixabay via Pexels
Innovation
Can AI make you a hit musician?
By Zachy Hennessey
Photo by Amel Uzunovic via Pexels
Innovation
Lowering blood sugar can slow brain aging
By Yulia Karra
Illustrative image by Cdd20 on Pixabay
Innovation
Prosthetic valve to revolutionize common heart condition
By John Jeffay
Tevel develops automated fruit-picking drones. Photo courtesy of Tevel Aerobotics Technologies
Innovation
6 drone companies doing good for society
By Zachy Hennessey
Prof. Valery Krizhanovsky, left, and Dr. Julia Majewska. Photo courtesy of the Weizmann Institute of Science
Innovation
Zapping zombie cells could ward off age-related diseases
By John Jeffay
Image by Freepik
Innovation
Simple software translates videos to other languages
By John Jeffay
A board showing canceled flights at Ben-Gurion Airport. Photo by Flash90
Travel
High-tech firms fight Israeli flight crisis with new airline
By Yulia Karra

TRAVEL

  • View of the Eilat Mountains, a mountain range in southern Israel bordering Eilat and Egypt. Photo by Maor Kinsbursky/FLASH90
  • A field of anemone flowers blossoming in the Elah Valley. Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90
  • Panoramic view of Ein Karem, a mountain village-turned-Jerusalem neighborhood. Left of center is the Church of Saint John the Baptist. Photo by Tombah via Wikimedia Commons
  • View of salt formations on the Dead Sea shore on April 28, 2024. Photo by Jamal Awad/Flash90
  • A view of sunrise at Mount Shlomo in the Eilat mountains. Photo by RnDmS, via Shutterstock
  • The view from Ramat Hanadiv Memorial Gardens on the Carmel Mountains, near Zichron Ya'akov, where Baron Edmond de Rothschild and his wife are buried. Photo by Doron Horowitz/Flash90
  • Sunset at Caesarea Harbor. Photo by Zeev Roytman via Wikimedia Commons
  • The Israel National Trail has some of the most diverse hiking spots you could dream of. Photo by Dov Greenblat/SPNI
  • The view from the base of the Small Crater. Photo by Dov Greenblat/SPNI
Travel
10 of the most beautiful spots on the Israel trail
By Zachy Hennessey
Breakfast at the David Kempinski Tel Aviv hotel. Photo via Instagram
Travel
Tel Aviv hotel’s breakfast rated among world’s best
By Yulia Karra
Photo by DC Studio via Shutterstock.com
Travel
Your hotel stay, digitized and customized from pre-check-in
By Abigail Klein Leichman
An Airbus 320-200 takes off from Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. Photo by Felix Tchvertkin, via Shutterstock
Travel
Airlines flying to Israel now and those returning soon
By Zachy Hennessey
A brand-new Air Haifa plane. Photo by Sion Pereg
Travel
Air Haifa takes off; first new airline in 35 years
By John Jeffay
Covid convinced Americans of the importance of travel insurance, say Faye’s founders. Image by mdjaff on Freepik
Travel
The company that’s redefining US travel insurance
By Yulia Karra

LIFE

A delicious Piethanks banquet awaiting its first takers. Photo by Zachy Hennessey
Tales from the Heart
Happy Piethanks: how immigrants craft new holiday traditions
By Zachy Hennessey
“Tehran” screenshot from Kan TV
Life
House’s Hugh Laurie to join cast of Tehran for season 3
By Zachy Hennessey
Anita Shkedi, center, directing equine therapy at Transcending Trauma. Photo courtesy of Anita Shkedi
Life
Horses help Oct. 7 survivors and vets transcend trauma 
By Abigail Klein Leichman
  • Increased smoking, illustrated by these soldiers in Jerusalem, is an unfortunate consequence of a year of war. Photo by Miriam Alster/Flash90
  • Israeli shoppers at the IR YAMIM mall in Netanya on September 8, 2024. Photo by Michael Giladi/Flash90
  • Faces of the fallen are stuck to a pillar next to the sea in Herzliya. Photo by Nicky Blackburn
  • Ariane Littman’s “Scarred Flag.” Photo by Arian Litman
  • HaShomer HaChadash volunteers helping at an Israeli farm. Photo courtesy of JNF-USA
Life
 9 ways Israel has changed culturally as a result of war
By Yulia Karra
Remains of a house in Be’eri destroyed by Hamas on October 7. Photo by Natalie Selvin
Life
One year on: A look at Israeli village destroyed by Hamas
By Yulia Karra
Hannah Szenes sitting at her desk and a closeup of her writings. Photo from the Szenes Family Archive at the National Library of Israel, courtesy of Ori and Mirit Eisen
Life
Rare photos emerge of WWII hero Hannah Szenes on tragic anniversary  
By Yulia Karra
Photo by Ganko Group on Vecteezy
Life
How music influences your brain to help you feel better
By Abigail Klein Leichman
Some of the winners of this year's Israel TikTok Awards Photo by Rafi Delouya
Life
TikTok Awards 2024 applaud Israel’s biggest creators
By Yulia Karra
Bedouin Arabs ride their camels during the race on November 1. Photo by Jamal Awad/Flash90
Life
Israel’s first legal camel race celebrates Bedouin culture 
By Yulia Karra
Disconnecting from the world, connecting with fellow veterans. Photo courtesy of Healing in Nature
Life
IDF vets find healing in the wilderness of Montana
By Abigail Klein Leichman
A tattoo depicting Supernova partygoers huddling next to a car under gunfire. Photo courtesy Bar-Ilan University
Life
Tattoo trend helps Israelis process trauma, confront death
By Nicky Blackburn
Israelis visit the site of the Supernova music festival massacre, October 6, 2024. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90
Innovation
Learning the difficult lessons about PTSD from the Nova Festival
By Yulia Karra

EARTH

TextRe's three-stage process of textiles being converted into plastic. Photo courtesy of TextRe
Earth
Turning textile waste into ecofriendly plastic 
By Yulia Karra
Image designed by Freepik
Earth
Climate: The ticking time bomb for the financial world
By Yael Benvenisti
A plastic-filled landfill. Photo generated by Canva Magic Media AI
Earth
6 technologies helping us reduce plastic use
By Zachy Hennessey
Fermata and yieldsApp have partnered for comprehensive farm management. Photo courtesy of yieldsApp
Earth
Double dose of AI to help farmers maximize yield
By John Jeffay
Nanovel's citrus-harvesting robot works around the clock. Photo by Tal Bedrack
Innovation
Meet the farm robot that picks citrus fruit
By Yulia Karra
Illustration of a biogas plant by Allahfoto via Shutterstock.com
Earth
Making biogas a green energy source
By Abigail Klein Leichman
A swarm of jellyfish. Image by Sonyworld from Pixabay
Earth
4 weird but sustainable sources of protein
By Zachy Hennessey
Photo courtesy of Eco Wave Power
Earth
Israeli wave-energy technology coming to shores of Taiwan
By Abigail Klein Leichman

MOVING FORWARD POST 7/10

Activists block a road in Tel Aviv to advocate for the release of the hostages, September 13, 2024. Photo by Chaim Goldberg/Flash90
Moving Forward
These tough days are rocket fuel for future growth
By Jonathan Frenkel
Photo by Ksenia Chernaya on Pexels.com
Moving Forward
My three-legged response to October 7th 
By Sandy Cardin
Natalie Selvin, in blue, with guests at a Purim party she and a friend hosted to the soundtrack of EDM music such as dubstep, drum and bass, trance/psytrance and hardstyle. Photo courtesy of Natalie Selvin
Moving Forward
We will dance again
By Natalie Selvin
The October 7 Memorial Wall for the Murdered and Fallen. Photo courtesy of the National Library of Israel
Life
Here’s how you can commemorate October 7 online 
By Yulia Karra
Family and friends attend the funeral of peace activist Vivian Silver, murdered in the October 7 massacre of Kibbutz Be’eri. Photo by Jonathan Shaul/Flash 90
Life
9 unusual memorials for October 7 victims 
By Yulia Karra
The Returning to Life Rehabilitation Center for War Casualties at Sheba Medical Center. Photo by Natalie Selvin/ISRAEL21c
Life
Israeli hospital transforms to meet wartime rehab demand
By Zachy Hennessey
When war broke out, Israelis from all walks of life immediately offered their help. In this case sorting and packing cucumbers. Photo by Nicky Blackburn
Moving Forwards
I put my faith in the extraordinary ordinary people
By Nicky Blackburn
The 48, 2024
Life
The 48 – 2024
By ISRAEL21c Staff

UNDERSTANDING THE CONFLICT

A drone fired from Lebanon flies over the Israeli border. Photo by Ayal Margolin/Flash90
Life
How Israel can combat the threat of Hezbollah drones
By Yulia Karra
A missile fired from Lebanon hit houses and cars in Kiryat Bialik in northern Israel on September 22, 2024. Photo by Chaim Goldberg/Flash90
Life
Will all-out war break out between Israel and Hezbollah?
By Yulia Karra
Life
7 books to help you understand the Hezbollah Israel conflict
Explainer
What’s Hezbollah got to do with the war in Gaza?
By Naama Barak
Life
Does Hezbollah pose a bigger threat to Israel than Hamas?
By Naama Barak
The history of the Gaza Strip is complex. Image by Rokas Tenys via Shutterstock.com
Explainer
How did we get here? A brief history of the Gaza Strip
By Naama Barak
A 3D satellite map showing the Gaza Strip highlighted in red. Image by Ali Chehade via Shutterstock.com
Life
A timeline of the Gaza Strip since 1906
By Naama Barak
Iran: once an Israeli friend, now a foe. Map image by Below the Sky via Shutterstock.com
Explainer
How Iran became Israel’s greatest foe
By Naama Barak
A Yemenite soldier fighting against Houthi militia in Taiz. Photo by akramalrasny via Shutterstock.com
Explainer
What do the Houthis have to do with the Gaza war?
By Naama Barak
Collage of book covers by ISRAEL21c
Life
8 must-read books on the Israel Iran conflict
By Naama Barak

Israel's unexpected heroes

  • Rachel Edri pictured as a superhero with a cookie. Digital photo created by Guy Aga
  • Oz Davidian, a courageous rescuer on October 7. Photo: screenshot
  • Shlomo Ron, who took a bullet to save his family. Photo: screenshot
  • IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari gives a statement to the media in Tel Aviv on October 16, 2023. Photo by Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90
  • Ben Shimoni, killed on October 7 as he tried to rescue others. Photo: screenshot
  • Medic Staff Sgt. Dor Ashkenazi, left, and paramedic Sgt. Almog Oren. Photo courtesy of IDF Spokesperson's Unit
  • From left, Ha’Achim founders Asaf Doktor, Yotam Doktor and Yaron Ramon. Photo courtesy of Ha’Achim
  • Maj.-Gen. (ret.) Noam Tibon. Photo courtesy of IDF Spokesperson via Wikimedia Commons
  • Cpl. Amichai Rubin, 23. Photo courtesy of the Rubin family
  • Bedouin minibus driver Yussef Alziadna. Screenshot taken from X (Twitter) @rcuvnegev
  • Dr. Bahir Sirhan from the Galilee Medical Center treats relatives hurt by a missile launched from Lebanon. Photo by Roni Albert
  • Sami Elkrenawi, a Bedouin Arab hotel owner sheltering hundreds of southern evacuees free of charge. Photo courtesy of Sami Elkrenawi
  • Beraha Astruk, head ophthalmology nurse at Galilee Medical Center. Photo by Roni Albert
  • EMT Moshe Weitzman. Photo courtesy of United Hatzalah
  • Eran Smilansky killed terrorists and rescued fellow kibbutz members on October 7, 2023. Photo by John Jeffay
A CELEBRATION OF COURAGE
The everyday people who became heroes
By ISRAEL21c Staff

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