Flying By The Skin of Your Teeth Could Be Key To Greening Aviation Industry

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 12:47:53 GMT

Your teeth are only as strong as glass, but they can withstand years of you crunching on granola bars. How is this? The key is that teeth form microscopic cracks jig-jagged in shape, instead of big ones, in order to alleviate sudden impact and stress on your teeth. It is these micro-cracks in teeth, say Tel Aviv University researchers in a new study, first to describe how the phenomenon works, that can be used in biomimicry for creating lighter and safer airplanes. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Bad News For Sea Nymphs and Sirens: A $282 Million Seaweed Deal Heals Broken Hearts

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 08:23:26 GMT

Seaweed liquid morphs into gel to sheath heart muscles after attack Not too shabby considering the product is based on a common brown seaweed: an Israeli pharmaceutical company BioLineRx has just in-licensed a new heart smart remedy to heal hearts after a first heart attack. The deal worth $282 million for BioLineRx constitutes the most expensive seaweed deal in history possibly surpassing the use of seaweed in biofuel; the solution amazingly novel: a liquid formulation based on seaweed is injected into the heart after a cardiac event. Once in the heart, it morphs into a gel creating a scaffold giving room for the heart to heal. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

This Little Piggy ... Was Tagged With CartaSense's Chip And Isolated Early When She Got Sick

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 16:30:20 GMT

Cartasense is monitoring animals at home and on the range It won't help this time around alleviating the swine flu outbreak, but the Israeli company CartaSense has invented a chip to monitor swine health to nab potential viral outbreaks early. The solution, they say, also works on other livestock - and bees too - so that farmers and apiarists can be alerted immediately if beasts or bees come down with a sniffle. We've heard of the bee's knees, but a bee's sneeze?... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Vaccinating With Remembee Against Bee Colony Collapse Disorder

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 15:40:07 GMT

With the deadly swine flu, bird flu and bee colony collapse disorder it kind of makes you feel like nature is biting back. Some good news for at least one of the big problems: the Israeli company Beeologics has developed a vaccine against colony collapse disorder, the disturbing syndrome that has been wiping out bee communities and threatening agricultural production all over the world. Their new drug, Remembee has completed successful clinical trials on millions of bees in North America. Not only has it proved effective in maintaining bee health, but it also improved the longevity of bees and increased the honey in the hives. Based on Nobel prize-winning RNAI technology, Remembee helps the bees overcome IAVP virus, also discovered in Israel, which has been associated with colony collapse in scientific literature. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Tel Aviv Cyclists Out in "Thongs" To Protest Lack of Bike Legislation

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:00:40 GMT

(Screenshot of the YouTube video showing the protest in "thongs" in Tel Aviv). Hot bodies alert! You heard it right. Clothing was optional as Tel Aviv cyclists and roller bladers protested against lack of bike legislation in thongs, and other combinations of underwear (or lack of underwear). Protesting a helmet law, the cyclists used the forum to balk about the lack of government support for cycling as a form of transportation. The streets of cities like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem are blocked with congestion and stuffed up with pollution. Putting their bodies in front of the law is the only method this group saw as fit to deal with their frustrations: They decided to show the government exactly what it was missing by not promoting urban cycling - a nation full of attractive, physically fit specimens. See video below. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Plastic Irrigation Trays Make The Most of Dew and Weeding Obsolete

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 08:45:34 GMT

They don't look pretty, and not what you'd imagine when you skip through an apple orchard but new plastic irrigation trays make the most out of limited water resources. We've already posted on fog and dew collectors. Here's something new: The company Tal Ya - for God's dew in Hebrew - have devised a simple and why-didn't-I-think-of-that solution for collecting dew. Made from recycled materials, and recyclable, using them means your farm or orchard (yes they come in tree size too), may never have to weed again. Blocking the sun from allowing weeds to form, the trays also make the most of fertilizer since it funnels right down to the root. We want some. How much do they cost? ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Bejewel Mom With Green Bling, Recycled and Sustainable, On Mother's Day

Fri, 08 May 2009 09:55:12 GMT

(Justin Giunta's Subversive Jewelry is hot on the catwalk, and the recycled clusters of necklaces could make Mom smile.) There is no end to pretty recycled treasures and baubles we feature on TreeHugger. But if your mom isn't the type to carry a purse (no matter how chic!) made from inner tubes, or recycled earrings from bottle caps, then we have the ultimate resource -- picked from an influential fashion editor in New York. A couple of weeks ago, I interviewed Marilyn Kirschner the editor of the fashion insider newsletter LookOnLine.com for the boutique designer jewelry website Gallery Atlantic. Marilyn's reporting on the all the major fashion events in New York, and I wanted her opinion on some of the most exciting green trends. And - designers- that cater to more of an upscale aesthetic, like Mom's. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

The Zayed Future Energy Prize Offers Innovator a $1.5 Million In Prize at the 2010 World Future Energy Summit

Fri, 08 May 2009 00:50:09 GMT

Have the latest technology that squeezes water from air using minimal power? How about a new wind energy turbine that pulls energy from the wind most efficiently? Or desalination technology that can convert brackish water to potable water using solar power? Have a vision -- and project -- that could change the way we look at supplying the world energy? Well take that vision and earn some serious cash for it. Step right up and apply for the Zayed Future Energy Prize. Applications are now online, and with the application date open until October 16, there's plenty of time for submitting your plan.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Stop Kissing To Stop The Swine Flu

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 08:33:41 GMT

Over here on TreeHugger, we've been following the spread of the swine flu virus and have even given readers a complete guide - What You Need To Know About Swine Flu. Tips like washing your hands, recognizing symptoms and anti-social behavior are among our top tips, but now with a new case reported in Israel yesterday, Middle East health officials are getting quite creative with their advice. The Health Minister of Lebanon suggests that people stop kissing. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Israeli Cyclists Pump Up The Earth Day Voltage With Pedal Powered Concert

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 06:24:19 GMT

It felt like all of Tel Aviv was out celebrating Earth Day yesterday in Israel as cyclists pedal powered a phenomenal show at Rabin Square. To keep the wattage flowing, spent falafel oil was used as a biofuel backup. TreeHugger was there on the scene, with our entourage in tow, and filmed this video of the cyclists in action. Because Earth Day April 22 follows too closely after Israel's Holocaust Memorial Day, the show was postponed a day later out of respect. Word up. They got mine. Over the fold, you can see a video of Israel's President Shimon Peres unplugging the Old City of Jerusalem. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Israelis Go For Falafel Power at Earth Day Celebrations to "Bio" Fuel Concert

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 01:45:31 GMT

(Some human pedal power mixed with falafel oil to power up Balkan Beat Box tonight) This year Israel was caught with its pants down and instead of participating in Earth Hour, which Tel Aviv did so terrifically last year, the country was busy watching an "important" soccer match between Israel and Greece instead. Making good on Earth Day this year tonight Israelis will celebrate with an hour of lights out in cities throughout the country. The most fun will be a free used falafel oil powered concert, along with some human pedal action, tonight at Rabin Square in Tel Aviv. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

I Am What I Eat In Israel, Take A Peek In My Fridge

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:51:45 GMT

We are what we eat, goes the old saying. So looking inside my fridge can tell you quite a bit about my values, and how I put my green ideas into action. Fridge voyeurism, or fridge watching, whatever you want to call it, people around the world are opening up their fridges for the world to see. What am eating? Organic food, food that's grown locally, cheese, meat, veggies or processed food? Take a take a peek. It will give you the same kind of pleasure, like looking inside someone's underwear drawer. I promise. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

I'm Twittering Over Water In Jerusalem

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 04:22:45 GMT

If you haven't caught on to the supremely contagious micro-blogging phenomenon known as Twitter, now's your chance to Twitter for an amazing cause, charity:water. This year, on February 12, 2009 over 140 cities worldwide will be hosting Twestival 2009 to raise money for charity:water, which provides clean drinking water to villages in Africa. And despite our own drought issues, and lack of rain this year, Israelis are tweeting and retweeting all about the cause to support water in Africa: Jerusalem's Twestival is unique in that beyond money for this charity, it will also be promoting worldwide awareness highlighting Israel's contributions in cleantech, writes Yannai, from the Jewish Climate Initiative: "I wanted to tell you about Twestival '09- Jerusalem, a Twitter event raising money for charity:water, a water project in Africa. You can read some details below [and about Twestival 2009 in the TreeHugger archives], but as the event will be taking on a water/cleantech-in-Israel tone, we thought perhaps [you'd] like to write a piece about it . . . It looks like Jewish Climate Initiative will be involved, as well." Twestival has already generated a lot of press in its use of the new social media micro-blogging protocol Twitter to promote a social cause. Details about the Jerusalem event: ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Freak Caterpillar Invasion Eating Its Way Through Liberia

Sun, 25 Jan 2009 13:40:38 GMT

It happens once in a while: That tiny thread holding the fine balance of nature together somehow snaps. This is what's happening in Liberia, right now, the AP reports. Millions of crop devouring caterpillars known as "army worms" are taking over the country. Authorities in Liberia are desperate to find a solution to the inch long creatures clogging water wells with their excrement, and devouring major crops of bananas, plantains, coffee, rice and cocoa beans. The creatures started multiplying a couple of weeks ago, and have swarmed one clinic, preventing people from accessing it, the Ministry of Agriculture said.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Israel's New Natural Gas Bonanza Could Ignite Conflict With Lebanon

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 03:15:13 GMT

Amidst all its struggles to develop clean and cleaner technologies (and a recent war with Gaza), it seem that Israelis got a huge gift this week: they were celebrating the discovery of a massive estimated 3 trillion cubic feet natural gas pocket found buried 1.5 km below the sea floor, some 90 km off the coastal city Haifa. Sounds like great news. Shai Agassi from Better Place will finally have the cleaner fuel source to launch his nation-wide electric car scheme in Israel, and Israel can stop buying natural gas from Egypt. But no so fast. Lebanon is staking its claim, saying that the natural gas reserve also belongs to the Lebanese. Could this be the means for Israel to make peace with Lebanon, once and for all, or could it lead to renewed conflicts? ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Green Beanie Awards For Jewish Environmentalists

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 03:55:24 GMT

Tu B'Shevat, otherwise known as Jewish Earth Day, is a time for Jews in Israel and beyond to focus on their responsibility to the environment. It's also a New Year's Day for the trees! In the Jewish community, there are many innovative initiatives that fulfill this responsibility, and the Jewish newswire service, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) wants to tell the world about them. Does your organization have a green initiative that you think everyone should know about? Have you gone beyond "reduce, reuse, recycle" to make a positive impact on the environment? ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Daryl Hannah Dives, And Splashes, Into Egyptian Eco-Tourism

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:05:14 GMT

Mentioning it a while back when she was being interviewed on TreeHugger, in this video Daryl Hannah -- TreeHugger's favorite foxy environmentalist -- explores eco-tourism holidays in Sinai, Egypt. In particular, she nests for a bit at an ancient spot on Mount Sinai, an eco-resort and a friendly place for Christians, Muslims and Jews. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

When The Green Side of Israel Gets Tainted Black

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 05:40:54 GMT

Once upon a time, I had a friend who was a glossy magazine writer working on a story for a yoga magazine. Reporting from Israel, she wanted to interview the Ethiopian-Israeli community in Beersheba and ask them why they weren't practicing yoga. For me that was a very Marie Antoinette sort of question. How could these people, among the poorest in Israel, who are struggling to put food in their babies' mouths, and learning the basics about the western world -- like how to use a toilet -- consider for a second about breaking into the Lion Pose, and meditating? This is how I feel right in Israel. It just doesn't seem right to talk about the environment, when people from both sides of the green line are suffering and trying to survive. I'm really not in the mood. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Recycled Donkey Dump the Dumbest "Green" Gift From the Holy Land

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:35:15 GMT

Now that the Christmas shopping spree is over, and Channukah's wild nights of gorging jelly-filled doughnuts finished, here's the latest in dumb "green" gifts for the holidays. This time we go all the way to the Holy Land for this little treasure: a plastic encased turd of donkey dung. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

See Innowattech Collect Energy From the Road, In Action

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 05:48:19 GMT

Green sites have been commenting on the "energy parasite": Innowattech, including our own Lloyd. The Israeli company has developed a system using energy harvesting piezoelectric crystals to sequester the mechanical energy generated on highways, the runway and the railway. On December 30th, the company opens its tech to you the public to come see for yourself. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Make Evil Eyes Turn Green With Hamsas, A Gift For All Faiths

Sat, 20 Dec 2008 01:04:15 GMT

'Tis the season to be green and jolly, if you are a Christian TreeHugger. But it's a joyous month since a number of holidays for people of all faiths intersect around this time. It's especially noticeable if you live in the Middle East. Over here in Jaffa, where I am now living, a couple of weeks ago Muslims everywhere were celebrating Eid al-Adha; Israeli Jews will start lighting candles and gorging on jelly-filled doughnuts for Hanukah starting next week. But whatever the season, or holiday, unique and green gift-giving is always something on our minds. When it comes to choosing gifts that are "green" the options are limited even more. One nice way to "say I love you" to someone in a way that is soft on the environment, is to give something handmade. Trendy, with no official religious affiliation is the good old hamsa, one of our faves, which means "five" in Arabic. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Between the Pages of Eco-Libris and How they Green the Publishing Industry

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 08:21:08 GMT

Eco-Libris is no stranger to TreeHugger. The company now more than a year old, has been featured here in a number of shapes and forms. Planting trees for the books you buy, puts Eco-Libris in our good book. Here's our latest interview with Raz Godelnik, the CEO of the green company with strong Israeli roots. The latest news? Eco-Libris has partnered with Simon & Schuster. 1. Tell us a little bit about Eco-Libris, and the milestones you've passed since founding? Eco-Libris is a green business that helps facilitate the greening of the book industry. We work with book readers, publishers, authors, bookstores and others in the book industry to balance out the paper used for books by planting trees. More than 30 million trees are cut down annually for virgin paper used for the production of books sold in the U.S. alone. Eco-Libris aims to raise awareness to the environmental impacts of using paper for the production of books and provide people and businesses with an affordable and easy way to do something about it: plant one tree for every book they read, write, sell or publish. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

The First Green Drinks In The Middle East To Say "L'Haim" In Tel Aviv

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 06:39:41 GMT

The running joke among some of my friends is that we'll need to bring hummus (organic hummus?) to the first Green Drinks meeting in Tel Aviv, happening on December 15th from 8-10pm at Gilda. Israelis, God forbid, can't be expected to go to a meeting without food. While environment groups abound in the White City, painting their green ideals in every which way -- and starting new political parties -- some reps from the groups say they will be more than happy to be able to drink a beer and talk green shop. And this TreeHugger is one of the organizers of the new Green Drinks TLV. (TreeHugger Jacob told me to.)... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Using the "Flash" from Lightning To Predict Deadly Floods

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:55:50 GMT

Flash floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States, and a leading cause of all weather-related deaths. Over here in the Middle East, with much of the land desert, flash floods kill people every winter season when the rains start. See Relief Web's report on Yemen, and OneWorld blog here on the Yemen flash flood which recently displaced more than 20,000 people. Flash floods are unpredictable, and are expected to occur more frequently as climate change patterns (from global warming) become more erratic. They usually arrive with little or no warning, but a Tel Aviv University researcher, Prof. Colin Price, says he can predict where and when they will occur using lightning. Prof. Colin Price, coordinator of the international "Flash Project" is studying the link between lightning and subsequent flash floods. The three-year study includes scientists from five European countries, and its results are expected to be adopted by weather forecasting agencies around the world. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

EWA Squeezes Water From Thin Air, Like In Old Biblical Times

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 03:19:16 GMT

Ancient Israelites collected morning dew from stones. There are prayers for dew in the Bible, and the recipe for the traditional Jewish bread -- challah -- includes how much dew to use in the batzhek (the dough). So it's not a far-fetched idea that clean technology developers in Israel look to this ancient method of water extraction to solve water scarcity problems around the globe. An Israeli company EWA believes they have found a way to get around the enormous amount of energy needed to be input in order to collect water from air -- even in desert regions. Putting aside their solar powered air conditioning invention to take care of a more pressing concern for water, EWA, has created a new humidity collection device expected to see $5 million in sales by the end of this year, and $100 million by the end of 2009. Who's buying? ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Beeologics To Save US Honeybees With New Anti-Viral Medicine -- Have a Colony To Share?

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:21:07 GMT

In some circles this is breaking news -- Israeli-US scientists say they have found a cure for honeybee collapse disorder (Colony Collapse Disorder -- CCD), a condition which TreeHugger has been following extensively over the last couple of years. While different theories abound as to why honeybee populations have collapsed, the scientists from Beeologics are wasting no time in finding a solution. Some predict that humans won't last 5 years on earth without honeybees, so just in time for the Jewish New Year, where honey is a big part of the menu, this news is warmly welcomed. According to ISRAEL21c, last winter, over 36 percent of US bee colonies collapsed, affecting honey production, but more significantly, the collapsed affected one-third of all food production that requires pollination - from fruits and nuts, to the dairy and beef cows that feed on alfalfa. The company Beeologics is now taking rapid measures to bring to market a proprietary anti-viral agent that promises to alleviate the effects of the virus strongly associated with Colony Collapse Disorder with full-scale FDA trials commencing next month. How in the world will it save our bees? ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Party Like It's 5769 And Have Yourself a Sustainable Jewish New Year

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 07:42:07 GMT

Christian Americans have one. So do the Chinese, Muslims -- and the Jews. I am talking about New Years celebrations. While January 1st is the obviously date when most Americans and Europeans party and drink copious amounts of organic champagne and kiss under the wilting Christmas mistletoe, people from other faiths celebrate New Years a little differently, and at different times. Come next Monday September the 29th, Jews around the world will be celebrating their New Years, Rosh Hashanah, marking 5769 years since the beginning of time -- or the advent of modern civilization, depending on one's belief. While tradition is tradition in Judaism (we've all seen Fiddler on the Roof, right?), Jews with a green conscious are looking to incorporate the environmental message into this year's celebrations. If you're New York-based consider dipping your organic apples into locally-produced honey with Green High Holidays at 92YTribeca. Over the fold for more. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Car2Go's Urban Car Share Goes Vroom Through a Congested Tel Aviv

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:20:27 GMT

Living in a kibbutz has the makings for a good life. You have no need for money, have your breakfast served like clockwork in the morning, your clothes get washed by someone else, and your kids can play freely unsupervised. Another bonus of belonging to the community of a kibbutz - a socialist model developed in Israel -- is use of the kibbutz car fleet. You don't own a car in a kibbutz, but sign one out, when you need it. Taking the kibbutz cooperative model to the urban environment is Car2Go an Israeli company that uses the concept of car sharing (similar to Zipcar in New York and New Jersey) transporting it to Tel Aviv. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Project Interchange's Green Movers and Shakers From Europe Experience Israel Through a Green Lens

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:12:57 GMT

Israel is a place, which is never not on the news. A Washington-based organization Project Interchange, is hoping that some of Europe's "green" leaders will get in touch with a little more than the ongoing conflict that they see on the TV. On September 20th to 27th, a delegation of European leaders will be in Israel. They include influential environmental journalists, policy makers from the World Bank and the EU parliament; energy and climate change specialists, as well as activism leaders. These rising leaders will meet with their Israeli counterparts (such as Gidon Bromberg) to learn firsthand some of Israel's strides and setbacks, when it comes to the environment. The 7-day whirlwind tour will include a tour of Hiria (Tel Aviv's rehabilitating garbage dump); they will visit the very hot geothermal company Ormat (also working in biodiesel); they'll see solar fields in action, will learn about the dying Dead Sea at the Dead Sea -- and much more. They will essentially experience different shades of "green" in Israel -- meeting the who's who -- and get a chance to discuss and debate with their Israeli counterparts along the way. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

What Green Words Are Obama and McCain Really Saying? Ask SpeechWars

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:55:00 GMT

This one's fun for the whole family -- who's talking the green talk? Obama or McCain? And since when? SpeechWars, a nifty research tool developed by Jerusalemite Ben Reis, can help you find out what green words presidential candidates are really using in their speeches, and since when. Just visit the site, type in your word, hit go and compare. The analyses are based on over 125 speeches downloaded for each candidate from their respective campaign and senatorial websites. And it's such an interesting tool that the US States Library of Congress has selected SpeechWars for inclusion in its official historic collection of Internet materials related to 2008's election. Before we get to the green stuff, some of the terms that McCain mentions more often than Obama include freedom, values, peace, democracy, human, international, security, leader. Click through for the vocab that dominates Obama's tongue, and to see how our hopefuls fare with "greener" words, like solar, climate, or energy. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Recent Posts by TreeHugger's Karin Kloosterman, Tel Aviv