Top 10 Israeli inventions you should know about
Did you know Israel has the world's most productive cows? Or that it's responsible for the epilator? Daniella Reyhanian chooses 10 Israeli inventions you should be aware of.
1) Israel developed the PillCam – the first pill that can be swallowed to record images of the digestive tract. The capsule is the size and the same shape as a pill, and contains a tiny camera. This invention is used very widely and was an extremely significant development in the field of medicine.
2) Israel was the country to develop the USB flash drive. Used by nearly everyone I know, it surely is one of the most useful modern inventions. It allows you to store all your files in a compact way, making it easier to access and work away from your computer.
3) Waze was invented by Israel. This GPS- based travel app gives you turn- by- turn information and up to date traffic statistics. It is now in use in over 100 countries, making it a hugely popular app for motorists.
4) Israeli inventions in the consumer goods market continue to thrive, as seen by the invention of the epilator. The first one, Epilady, was originally manufactured by a Kibbutz in Israel in 1986, and has since sold more than 30 million units.
5) In 2008, Israeli company EWA developed the technology to produce drinking water out of thin air. A condenser absorbs the air’s humidity, holds it in silica based gel granules, then condenses it into water. Better still, 85% of energy used is pumped back into the system. Yoffy toffee!
6) Ok, not strictly an invention but an amazing use of technology. Israel really is ‘the land of milk and honey’ thanks to its ‘super cows’, which produce far milk than other countries. Israeli cows produce up to 10.5 tons a year – 10% more than North American cows and almost 50% more than Germany’s cows! A combination of air conditioning, constant monitoring and pedometers to tell when the animals are getting fidgety helps to keep the milk flowing, according to Bloomberg.
7) Israel invented modern drip irrigation in the early 1960s. Drip irrigation allows you to save water and fertiliser by allowing water to drip slowly to the roots of plants through a network of plastic pipes, which is highly useful in areas where water is scarce.
8) Israel has even made its mark on salads! Two Hebrew University professors worked with a genetics company to develop the beloved cherry tomato. Modifying a regular tomato into one that ripened slowly and stayed fresh in transportation, the Israelis created a tastier and sweeter fruit that is a favourite of many.
9) Israel developed the BabySense device, which helps prevents cot deaths by monitoring a baby’s breathing and movements through the mattress while they sleep. An auditory and visual alarm is activated if any irregularities occur during their sleep, which has helped parents prevent the horrors of cot death worldwide.
10) Lastly, and one of my favourite inventions by Israel is Viber. Available for download on any smart phone, the app allows you to make calls across the world for free, using Wifi. Its high speed connection and ability to keep in contact with anyone anywhere truly makes it one of Israel’s best inventions.
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