On the other hand
It is just as well that our innovators, scientists, researchers and entrepreneurs keep Israel in the forefront of international achievements.
If they emulated our politicians this country would be nowhere near the cutting edge nation that it is today. Perhaps the political ego trippers could be replaced by technocrats who actually have the best interests of the country at heart.
Meanwhile another week of positive developments hit the headlines.
YET ANOTHER MEDICAL ADVANCE
Medical research in Israel continues to make spectacular breakthroughs which will benefit not only local citizens but all of humanity. The Jewish nation is truly fulfilling its Prophetic promise of being a light unto the nations.
A research team at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Faculty of Medicine and Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences has developed a method that delivers chemotherapy drugs directly to malignant cells and bypasses healthy ones. This discovery could allow doctors to reduce chemo doses for patients, thereby reducing the unpleasant side-effects associated with the treatment, and improve treatment compliance and overall prognoses.
The new findings were published in a recent issue of Frontiers in Pharmacology. The study focuses on the selective expression of the TRPV2 protein by cancer cells. When activated, TRPV2 protein opens a canal inside cell membranes. The researchers studied liver cancer cells and were able to successfully insert a low dose of doxorubicin, a chemotherapeutic agent, through the canal and directly into cancer cells. Not only did the new method target cancer cells without harming healthy ones. In the future, the precision of this delivery method may allow doctors to prescribe lower chemo doses and to relieve patients from some of the harsher effects of chemo.
According to the researchers, it is too early to make concrete predictions but they are hopeful this discovery will lead the way towards a new, more targeted delivery method for chemotherapy treatment, one that will drastically reduce patients’ pain it was stated.
CO2 EATING BACTERIA
Israeli scientists have revealed a potential weapon in the battles against air pollution, deforestation and climate change: bacteria engineered to eat carbon dioxide (CO2) from the environment.
The researchers believe that the cultured bacteria could prove healthy for the planet in a variety of ways. Engineering an E. coli strain capable of utilizing energy sources such as formate, which could be synthesized electrochemically from renewable energy, opens the possibility of producing net-zero emissions ethanol, butanol, and potentially even denser fuels such as diesel fuels, which could replace fossil fuels.
In addition, the research could serve as the basis for future methods to increase food production without the vast land masses currently needed for raising meat and vegetables. The CO2-eating bacteria also could be useful in producing alternative protein, a major goal in the food-tech world.
ON THE GROUND IN ALBANIA
A 6.4-magnitude earthquake shook Albania on November 26, followed by tremblors including a 5.3-magnitude aftershock on November 27. The quakes have killed 51 people, injured more than 3,000, displaced 6,000, and damaged about 7,900 buildings countrywide.
On November 27, members of a search-and-rescue crew from the Mevo’ot HaHermon Regional Council in northern Israel flew over to assist victim relief efforts.
The second Israeli delegation sent on December 3 included 10 IDF Home Front Command engineering and structural specialists and reservists. They took Israeli technological equipment to assess damage and evaluate the structural safety of damaged buildings.
Based on these assessments, the IDF experts will make recommendations to local officials about which areas are safe and which are not.
The delegation also brought waterproof tents to shelter Albanian citizens evacuated from their homes.
The tents were purchased by the Israeli Foreign Ministry for the Albanian government, which appealed to the international community for financial aid and expert assistance after the quake.
PRESERVING JEWISH ETHIOPIAN CULTURE
See how Jewish Ethiopian culture and traditions are being preserved in Israel:
IMPROVING THE PERFORMANCE OF FOOTBALL PLAYERS
New software developed to improve the cognitive abilities of football players. Another Israeli innovative invention.
