Maimonides

Rabbi Moses Ben Maimon (1138-1204)

Maimonides, the leading halakhist and most renowned rabbi of his day as well as the most important Jewish philosopher of the Middle Ages, was also a scholar of logic, mathematics, astronomy, natural science, and the author of at least ten works in the field of medicine. His influential writings educated generations of students and encouraged the study of science among Jews even until this day.

Dr. Chaim Weizmann

Dr. Chaim Weizmann (1874-1952)

Dr. Chaim Weizmann, a world-renowned chemist who for many years headed the World Zionist Organization, was the first president of both the Weizmann Institute of Science and the State of Israel. He had over 100 registered patents to his name, including one for fermenting acetone from plant material using a particular bacterium. This pioneering research is regarded as one of the cornerstones of modern biotechnology. Weizmann was one of the founders of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and he founded the Daniel Sieff Research Institute, which would develop into the Weizmann Institute of Science. He understood the importance of integrating science with industry and advanced the establishment of science-based industry. On the connection between science and the land of Israel, he said: “I trust and feel sure in my heart that science will bring to this land both peace and a renewal of its youth, creating here the springs of a new spiritual and material life. I speak of both science for its own sake and science as a means to an end...”

Aaron Aaronsohn

Aaron Aaronsohn (1876-1919)

Aaron Aaronsohn, known as the “first Israeli scientist,” discovered the wild wheat - “the mother of wheat” - in 1906. He believed that investigating the properties of wheat could lead to improved crops, help crops resist diseases and dry weather, and enable wheat cultivation in difficult areas. Thus, according to his vision, wheat crops could be doubled and tripled, thereby reducing the threat of famine throughout the world. Today his discovery is more important than ever, because of climate changes and global warming.

Prof. Albert Einstein

Prof. Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

Prof. Albert Einstein was the greatest scientist of the 20th century and perhaps of all times. His contributions to science became the foundations of modern physics, and their technological implications are apparent in all aspects of our daily life. He is known as the founding father of the theory of relativity, which revolutionized the concepts of time, space and gravity and is our basis for understanding the structure and evolution of the universe. Prof. Einstein won the Nobel Prize for his contribution to theoretical physics and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect. He is also one of the founders of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Colonel Ilan Ramon

Ilan Ramon (1954-2003)

During their 16-day mission in space, Ramon and the Columbia space shuttle crew conducted dozens of experiments, two of which were from Israel and conducted by Ramon. One was MEIDEX - a study of climate changes, documenting dust storms at various heights for the first time and examining lightning sprites. The second was the “chemical garden” experiment planned by Israeli pupils, aimed to examine crystal growth in sub-gravity. The data transmitted from MEIDEX to Earth is still being studied by scientists throughout the world, and the research continues at the international space station.

Self-Organization of Bacteria Colonies Sheds Light on the Behavior of Cancer Cells

Proof of the Existence of Imaginary Particles, Which Could Be Used in Quantum Computers

Prof. Mordechai Heiblum

This research was the first to prove the existence of “imaginary particles” with electric charges that are 1/3 and 1/5 that of an electron. They later discovered particles with 1/4 charges – and these may advance the development of quantum computers, which will be able to conduct thousands of computations in parallel.

Flying in Peace with the Birds

Prof. Yossi Leshem

Over 500 million birds migrate across the skies of Israel twice a year, and sometimes collide with Israeli Air Force planes. The researcher mapped the precise migration routes, heights and arrival dates of the birds for the first time ever, using radar, a motorized glider, drones and a network of birdwatchers, and made possible the planning of alternate air routes. The research led to a 76% reduction in collisions, sparing avian life and generating an estimated savings of over one billion dollars.

Repair of Heart Tissues from Algae

Prof. Smadar Cohen

Breakthrough research developing polysaccharide from algae (alginate), and its design as a material encouraging regeneration and repair of injured organs and tissues. Material design was inspired by biological principles such as self-assembly and affinity. The research led to novel products for treating heart attacks and repair of both cartilage and bone.

Drip Technology - The Irrigation Method That Revolutionized Agriculture

Simcha Blass (1897-1982), followed by Rafi Mehoudar

This technology, the first of its kind, delivers precise drops of water and nutrients directly to the plant’s roots rather than to the surrounding soil. Due to its precision, drip technology significantly saves both water and land resources, while increasing crop quantity and quality. The technology is currently used by millions of farmers in over 110 countries worldwide. Drip technology is used across various soil and climate types and for a wide range of crops.

Life in the Dead Sea

Prof. Eviatar Nevo, Prof. Solomon Wasser

Various Fungi
Discovered in the Brine

Although its high salt concentrations were thought to prevent life, researchers discovered 77 species of filamentous fungi that live in the Dead Sea. The full genome of one of the fungi was recently sequenced, and it includes thousands of genes, many of which are a genetic treasure of salt resistance. This discovery paved the way for the development of agricultural crops suited to deserts, contributing to increased food production in the world.

Rhopalaea Idoneta - A New Ascidian Species from the Gulf of Eilat

Dr. Noa Shenkar

Ascidians are invertebrate marine organisms which compete with corals and other species over free substrate and can cause damage to artificial structures, but are also a source for new drugs. This study described a new species that demonstrated the ability to transition from a solitary lifestyle to a colonial lifestyle and back, promoting our understanding of development and speciation in marine environments.

Adapting Citrus Cultivation to Desert Conditions

Dr. Eran Raveh

In commercial citrus orchards, trees are grafted together, joining two varieties. The lower part of the tree, the rootstock, provides the system of roots, while the upper part, the scion, produces the fruit. When the agriculture moved into the desert, new rootstocks had to be found for such an area.

Long-Keeping Regular and Cherry Tomatoes

Prof. Nachum Kedar (1920 – 2015), Prof Haim Rabinowitch, Prof. Yosef Mizrahi, Dr. Ehud Kopeliovitch

Skillfully using classic methods, these scientists were the world’s first team to breed tomato varieties with fruit that is long-keeping and rich in lycopene and in vitamins A and C. The tomatoes remain firm for weeks rather than days, thus significantly reducing heavy losses from rapid fruit softening. Later, the scientists reproduced their success by introducing another ripening-inhibitor gene into cherry tomatoes, which were at that time a marginal crop. They developed prolific new cherry tomato varieties that are economically viable as an agricultural product, with a long shelf life and an exceptional taste that appeals to people all over the world.

New Varieties of Seedless Grapes

Dr. Avi Pearl

This researcher heads a project that develops vines yielding improved seedless grape varieties, both for export consumption and for the local market. The project aims for large, very firm grapes that have an excellent taste and long shelf life. It has yielded choice varieties that now grow on a large scale in vineyards inside and outside Israel, including the Prime variety – a tasty green variety that ripens early and is exported by the millions of boxes per season. Recently its red cousin, the Starlight variety, was also developed.

Developing Modern Wine from Vines of the Bible

Dr. Elyashiv Drori, Prof. Ehud Weiss, Dr. Mali Salmon-Divon, Dr. Bat-Chen Lubin, Prof. Itshak Haviv

These researchers obtained DNA from scores of vine remnants found in archeological digs in Israel and compared them with a collection of local Israeli varieties they had collected in recent years. In that way, they identified several varieties that were used for wine and were prevalent about 3,000 years ago. This research led to the production of modern Israeli wine based on varieties that have survived since the Biblical period.

Development of a Commercial Membrane for Desalination

Prof. Sidney Loeb (1916-2008), Prof. Srinivasa Sourirajan

Reverse osmosis is a highly efficient and less energy demanding process for separation of salts and other pollutants from water. A durable and flexible membrane developed by these researchers led the desalination industry to apply reverse osmosis on a massive scale. Today, major desalination facilities in Israel and around the world are based on this development. The second reverse osmosis desalination facility in the world based on this method was constructed by Prof. Loeb at Kibbutz Yotvata in 1968.

ElectroInk - The World's First Electronic Ink for Commercial Printing

Benny Landa (Indigo, HP)

Patented, electrically charged liquid ink for high- quality commercial digital printing was first invented and developed in Israel. This technology bestowed the advantages of digital technology on the printing industry, which had been entirely analog until then. Digital printing presses became possible that print directly from the computer and revolutionized printing methods. More than 6,000 printing presses based on this technology, all made in Israel, are currently operating in 120 countries throughout the world.

Intel’s New Generation Processors

Engineers from Intel’s Development Centers, Haifa and Yakum, Intel Israel

The 6th generation Intel Core processors offer the company’s highest performances ever, with higher speeds, enhanced graphics and significant power savings. As such, they are used in ever-thinner, ever-lighter laptop PCs and tablet computers all across the world. It took the engineering teams 4 years to develop these state-of-the-art processors, which are manufactured using the leading-edge 14-nanometer manufacturing technology.

GridON - Preventing Power Outages in High Voltage Grids

Prof. Yosef Yeshurun, Dr. Shuki Wolfus

The increase in power consumption and connection of additional energy sources raises fault currents which damage the electrical grid reliability. The scientists developed a concept for use in electricity grids throughout the world, which limits fault currents - thereby preventing blackouts, improving grid reliability and efficiency, and enabling the connection of energy sources including renewable energy. This technology is already installed in the UK network, serving tens of thousands of customers.

VENus Environmental Research Satellite

Israel Space Agency – Ministry of Science and Technology, Israel Aerospace Industries, Elbit Systems Electro-optics – Elop, RAFAEL – Advanced Defense Systems, French Space Agency – CNES

This remote sensing satellite uses a multi-spectral camera to research and monitor vegetation, agriculture, irrigation efficiency and pollution of lakes and seas. An Israeli-developed electric ion propulsion system has been installed, for the first time, in this satellite. The satellite was successfully launched into orbit in August 2017.

The First Israeli Nanosatellite

Dr. Meir Ariel

DUCHIFAT 1 is the first Israeli nanosatellite and the only satellite designed by high school students that is still operational in space today. It was launched on June 19, 2014. DUCHIFAT 2 is an Israeli nanosatellite for measuring the electron density of the lower thermosphere. It was built at the Herzliya Science Center by high school students from all over the country. The satellite was launched into orbit from the international space station in May 2017.

Iron Dome - Rocket and Mortar Air Defense System

Die Ingenieure des Unternehmens und Partnerindustrien

RAFAEL – Advanced Defense Systems

Developed in a record time of less than 2.5 years by Rafael’s engineers and its partner industries, Iron Dome has intercepted thousands of rockets that have been fired at Israel, saving the lives of countless Israeli civilians. Iron Dome won the Israel Security Award and other international awards, for its groundbreaking success and uniqueness.

DiskOnKey - USB Flash Drive

Dov Moran (For the patent, Amir Ban and Oron Ogdan are registered together with him as authors)

This tiny mobile device, based on flash memory and a USB interface for transferring data from or to the computer, was invented and developed in Israel. It enables people to keep data in their pockets, easily back data up and transfer data directly between two people or two computers. The invention is considered one of the 100 top gadgets of all time. Billions of units have been produced to date, and the product is used by most of the world’s population.

Waze - Outsmarting Traffic, Together

Ehud Shabtai, Uri Levine, Amir Shinar

One of the world’s most widespread applications for navigation and traffic reports, based on community participation. The application shares real-time traffic updates and road conditions reported by drivers in the area, and helps everyone save time and gas money on their daily commutes. The development was initially started as a map-sharing project in 2006, and it flourished among drivers in Israel. In 2013, the company was purchased by Google.

Mobileye - an Accident Prevention System

Prof. Amnon Shashua und sein Partner Ziv Aviram

This researcher invented a system designed to prevent accidents by warning the driver in real time about dangerous situations and driving conditions. The system is original equipment in cars built by major automotive manufacturers worldwide and it is manufactured in Israel. In 2017, the company was bought by Intel for 15 billion dollars - the largest sum ever paid for the purchase of an Israeli company.

Firewall for Computer Network Security

Gil Shwed

Check Point

Firewall-1 was the first product to offer an innovative technology to defend computer networks from penetration. The product, based on the patented Stateful Inspection technology, can recognize infiltration attempts using advanced information analysis of communication traffic. Since its launch in 1993 this technology has been the foundation for protecting computer networks and defending millions of users all over the world.

Renaissance Robot for Spine and Brain Surgery

Prof. Moshe Shoham

The robot was developed in the laboratory of medical robotics and became an essential tool in operating rooms. It is attached to the patient’s vertebras or head, and guides the surgeon with levels of precision that are not possible by the human hand. The robot moves according to the surgical plan, based on patient’s imaging studies, facilitating greater accuracy, safety and a minimally invasive approach. The robot is being used in more than 100 hospitals around the world, and over 15,000 people were operated with it.

Muon Detectors in the World’s Largest Scientific Experiment

Tel Aviv University, Weizmann Institute of Science, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology

A huge system of state-of-the-art detectors, developed and built in Israel, is central to the operation of the ATLAS experiment operating at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). The experiment documents high-energy collisions initiated by the world’s largest particle accelerator. The Israeli detector system identifies muons, which are elementary particles created by the collision of energetic counter-rotating proton beams. The protons collide at a very high rate, and the products of their collision decay in a split second. Once the Israeli system identifies a muon, a signal is issued calling for a precise recording of the unusual events in the ATLAS detector, so that the nature and properties of the collision products may be later investigated. The Israeli detectors were a vital component in the discovery of the long-sought Higgs Boson in 2012.

Intelligent Computer Systems

Prof. Sarit Kraus

This researcher has developed intelligent computer systems that can interact proficiently with people. These systems include an automated speech therapist that can treat people remotely, a simulation of a police interrogation room, and automated negotiators. Her innovative work has made unique and diverse contributions in Israel and abroad, and its applications can be found in projects for increasing airport security, maximizing energy savings in cars and improving services from health care providers.

Transmitting Voice Conversations via the Internet

Lior Haramaty, Alon Cohen

The company developed the first software that made it possible to conduct voice conversations via a personal computer using the Internet and computer networks. This development was patented and led to the creation of voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) and the establishment of many companies, both in Israel and around the globe. The product was used to transmit phone calls while substantially reducing call rates, and laid the foundations for many popular applications we use today.

Steering with the Bats

Dr. Yossi Yovel

Miniature sensing devices, based on the Global Positioning System (GPS) and other sensors such as ultrasonic microphones, enable the researchers to study the social life of bat colonies with unprecedented detail. The research sheds new light on the social behavior of these flying mammals, for the first time ever, providing a new, clearer picture of their communication and search for food, their navigation skills and their swarming behavior in the wild.

Study of Bacterial Mechanisms for Coping with Temperature Change

Prof. Eliora Z. Ron, Dr. Dvora Biran, Dr. Ran Rosen, Dr. Eyal Gur

Having shown that bacteria – such as the intestinal Escherichia coli – respond to the temperature of their environment, researchers studied the mechanisms that enable the bacteria to cope with increased temperature. Their findings led to understanding the molecular mechanisms regulating this response as well as the effect of temperature on pathogenic bacteria and enable the development of sensors that detect temperature changes. Results of this study are highly important in view of global warming, and may contribute to the development of genetically enhanced survivability at high temperatures for bacteria, plants and animals.

Developing the Biotechnologies of Valuable Products from Red Marine Microalgae

Prof. Shosh Arad

The sulfated polysaccharide that encapsulates red microalgal cells has been studied intensively by this researcher (physiology, biochemistry, chemistry, and molecular structure). A unique, large-scale production technology has been developed. The novel material – with its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and lubricant bioactivities – is already being used in the products of a leading international cosmetics company. Pharmaceutical development is underway.

A New Method for Recruiting Immune Cells to Fight Cancer

Prof. Zelig Eshhar

The innovative treatment the scientist developed is based on the genetic engineering of the immune system's T cells to selectively attack cancer cells. This method is now on the forefront of biomedical drug development, and medical trials based on this research are showing promising results.

Copaxone - Drug for the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis

Prof. Michael Sela, Prof. Ruth Arnon and Dr. Dvora Teitlelbaum

The glatiramer acetate molecule, the product of the research, was developed into a drug that has improved the lives of many people in different countries. Copaxone is Israel's first ethical (original) drug.

Doxil (Caelyx) for Cancer Treatment

Prof. Yechezkel Barenholz and Prof. Alberto Gabizon

Doxil (known as Caelyx in Canada and Europe) is the world’s first nanomedicine developed for treating cancer of various forms. The researchers developed a nano-liposome, a tiny (nano) ball measuring approximately 100 nanometers in diameter (one ten-thousandth of a millimeter), where a fatty membrane surrounds a watery liquid in which the anti-cancer drug (doxorubicin) has been “trapped” at high concentration in the form of a nanocrystal. The nano-liposomes direct the drug to cancerous tissues and, at the same time, make the drug less toxic to healthy tissues. The drug lengthens patients’ survival and improves their quality of life. At present, this drug is used worldwide to the benefit of tens of thousands of patients.

The Genetics of Hearing

Prof. Karen B. Avraham

Research into the genetics of hearing has increased the understanding of how our sense of hearing works at the molecular and genetic level. Among other accomplishments, this researcher identified key genes that are involved in the auditory system, investigated the importance of normal development of hearing and learned how hereditary deafness derives from disruptions in the sequence and functioning of genes. Her findings are the foundation for developing new treatments to counteract genetic deafness and new ways to prevent it.

AZILECT - Drug for Parkinson’s Disease

Prof. Moussa B.H. Youdim, Prof. John Finberg

These researchers discovered the molecule "rasagiline" in the 1970s. Now the drug is marketed globally as AZILECT. AZILECT is indicated for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) as monotherapy (without levodopa) or as adjunct therapy (with levodopa). AZILECT slows down neuron death and the progression of Parkinson’s disease.

Exelon - A Drug for the Treatment of Dementia

Prof. Marta Weinstock-Rosin, Prof. Michael Chorev, Dr. Zeev Ta-Shma

This medicine, which is in clinical use, can improve cognitive function and slow the progression of dementia in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia of Parkinsonism.

Technological Application of the Molecular Recognition and Assembly Mechanisms Behind Degenerative Disorders

The Research Group Headed by Prof. Ehud Gazit: Dr. Lihi Adler-Abramovich, Aviad Levin, Zohar Arnon

Die Forscher entdeckten wie sich Materialien einer lebenden Zelle als geordnete Nanostrukturen organisieren. Diese von den Forschern untersuchte Selbstorganisation spielt bei diversen degenerativen Erkrankungen und Stoffwechselstörungen eine Rolle. Die Forscher fanden heraus, dass Nanosphären, Nanofäserchen, Nanoplatten und andere Nanostrukturen, die auf diese Weise gebildet werden, mechanische, optische und elektrische Eigenschaften haben, wodurch sie für die Energiespeicherung und Lichtemission nützlich sind. Diese Technologie wurde auf den Markt gebracht und ist aktuell in der Entwicklungsphase.

PillCam - for Diagnosing and Monitoring Diseases in the Digestive System

Dr. Gabriel Idan

Given Imaging/Medtronic

A capsule containing a miniature video camera was developed in Israel for diagnosing and monitoring sources of bleeding and Crohn’s disease in the small intestine. After the capsule is swallowed, it travels for about 8 hours through the digestive system, taking over 50,000 images. The photographs taken by the capsule’s camera are then downloaded into a video that the physician can review. More than 2.5 million patients throughout the world have benefited from this technology.

SniffPhone - Mobile Disease Diagnostics

Prof. Hossam Haick

The system is a pipeline technology that promises a rapid and noninvasive diagnostic tool for cancer and other diseases. Easily deployed and equipped with nanosensors, the system samples exhaled breath and decodes it. Data is then transferred via mobile phone to a data processing system for analysis . From there, results and recommendations are sent to the physician.

Discovering the Gene Responsible for Fingerprint Formation

Prof. Eli Sprecher, Dr. Janna Nousbeck, Dr. Ofer Sarig

While investigating a rare disease that causes people to be born without fingerprints and with poor sensation at their fingertips, the researchers found the gene responsible for the formation of fingerprints in humans. In addition to helping patients, this discovery has shed new light on other aspects of skin biology, since the newly found gene seems to regulate the development of numerous elements of the skin tissue.

Ancient Gold Treasure Found at the Foot of the Temple Mount

Dr. Eilat Mazar

A Jewish treasure of 1,400-year-old coins and jewelry was unearthed in excavations at the Ophel, south of the Temple Mount, in 2013. The rare treasure includes 36 gold coins bearing the images of Byzantine emperors, and a unique 10 cm gold medallion engraved with a Temple candelabrum, a ram’s horn and a Torah scroll. This discovery is magnificent evidence of the renewed presence of Jews in Jerusalem, hundreds of years after the Romans exiled them and forbade them to return.

The World’s Most Ancient Hebrew Inscription

Prof. Yosef Garfinkel, Sa’ar Gnor, Dr. Hagai Misgav

The discovery and deciphering of an inscription on a potsherd added to the historical credibility of Bible stories and to the likelihood that the Kingdom of David existed. The potsherd was found in archeological digs at Khirbet Qeiyafa in the Elah Valley and is dated to the 10th century BCE. The inscription was difficult to decipher but the following words emerged: “Do not do,” “slave,” “judge” and “king.” This is the world’s earliest surviving Hebrew inscription. Four inscriptions found recently in Khirbet Qeiyafa, Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh indicate that in David’s time the ability to write, a basic administrative need of any state, was spreading.

The Dead Sea Scrolls

Israel Antiquities Authority, The Leon Levy Dead Sea Scrolls Digital Library

A collection of thousands of scroll fragments from approximately a thousand manuscripts written at the end of the Second Temple period, from the 1st century BCE to the 1st century CE, found in caves and sites in the Judean Dessert on the western shore of the Dead Sea. The scrolls include copies of every book of the Bible except for the Book of Esther, Apocrypha, phylacteries (tefillin), mezuzahs and sectarian texts. They are written in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. In addition, a large collection of personal and administrative documents were found dated to the Bar Kokhba revolt. The Israel Antiquities Authority is engaged in the conservation, preservation and digitization of the scrolls using the most advanced technologies available at present.

Vine Seeds Discovered from the Byzantine Period

Prof. Guy Bar-Oz, Dr. Lior Weissbrod, Dr. Tali Erickson-Gini

This research group was the first to find vine seeds from the Negev of the Byzantine period (about 1,500 years ago). The finding was the achievement of an archeological dig among the waste mounds of the town of Halutza, located in the Holot Halutza National Park. The dig involved advanced soil- screening methods aimed at locating the seeds. This discovery will make possible a genetic study of the seeds’ ability to survive in the desert climate, and in the future such abilities may even be added to present-day vine seeds.

Turing Award - Developing New Tools for Systems Verification

Prof. Amir Pnueli (1941-2009)

As computerized systems become more complex, the risk of malfunction increases. An error in an autonomous vehicle control system, an inaccuracy in the data of a flight management system or a false reading in a medical device may lead to the loss of life. Prof. Pnueli developed tools and methods to verify the operations of such systems. His seminal paper was published in 1976, when he was at Tel Aviv University. He returned to the Weizmann Institute of Science in 1980, and in 1996, his research earned him the Turing Award, the most prestigious award in the field of computer science.

Turing Award - The Development of Interactive Zero-Knowledge Proofs

Prof. Shafrira (Shafi) Goldwasser with Prof. Silvio Micali (USA)

This scientist and her research partner pioneered the field of provable security. The interactive zero-knowledge proof systems they developed enable an ATM user, for example, to keep his password secret, only proving that he, himself, knows it; or a person to compute using cloud technology without revealing his data. In 2012, the two received the Turing Award, the most prestigious award in computer science.

Turing Award - Nondeterministic Decision-Making

Prof. Michael Rabin with Prof. Dana S. Scott

These researchers developed a groundbreaking model that enables a computer to make a nondeterministic decision about the next step it must take. Thanks to this model, algorithms were developed that are able to handle complex problems including unexpected factors. In 1976, the researchers won the Turing Award, the most prestigious award in the field of computer science, for their work. Prof. Rabin also has conducted research in primality testing that has contributed significantly to the fields of encryption and information security.

Turing Award - Machine Reasoning Under Uncertainty

Prof. Judea Pearl

Formulation of a theoretical model that enables a machine to mimic the activity of the human brain. The model revolutionized the field of artificial intelligence and enabled a machine to make decisions even when lacking all the data. The principles of the model are applied in a variety of fields, including the development of vaccines, voice recognition and automatic translation. In 2011, the researcher won the Turing Award, the most prestigious award in the field of computer science.

Fields Medal Award in Mathematics

Prof. Elon Lindenstrauss

This scientist's pioneering research in ergodic theory has had an impact on number theory and other mathematical disciplines and served as the basis for further research. Ergodic theory is a branch of mathematics studying the long term behavior of dynamical systems, such as various systems arising from physics, that evolve over time. In 2010, Prof. Lindenstrauss became the first Israeli to win the Fields Medal, often described as the “Nobel Prize of Mathematics.”

Nobel Prize in Economics

Prof. Daniel Kahneman, Prof. Amos Tversky (1937-1966)

Human Judgment and Decision-Making Under Uncertainty

Prof. Daniel Kahneman and Prof. Amos Tversky’s research focus was judgment and decision-making under conditions of uncertainty. The research revealed psychological mechanisms that cause systematic errors under predictable conditions. The findings were central in the birth of behavioral economics and influenced research in many other fields. For the research, Prof. Kahneman won the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2002.

Nobel Prize in Chemistry – Ubiquitin, Deciding the Fate of Defective Proteins in Living Cells

Distinguished Prof. Avram Hershko, Distinguished Prof. Aaron Ciechanover

Protein degradation is a critical process in cellular health, and understanding this process improves our knowledge in multiple fields ranging from neuroscience to development of anti-cancer therapies. These scientists revealed how defective proteins are destroyed by tagging them with ubiquitin, which leads to their destruction by a “cellular shredder.” For the unveiling of the ubiquitin system, Prof. Hershko and Prof. Ciechanover won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry – the first for Israeli scientists – in 2004.

Nobel Prize in Economics

Prof. Yisrael Aumann

Repeated Games

This researcher investigated situations of ongoing interaction – “repeated games.” He showed that social phenomena like trust, cooperation, altruism, punishment, revenge and threats – which may at first appear irrational – can be understood in terms of the usual “selfish” paradigm of accepted economic theory. For his research in this and related areas, Prof. Aumann shared the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 2005.

Nobel Prize in Chemistry – Decoding the Structure and Function of the Ribosome

Prof. Ada Yonath

The ribosome – the protein factory of all cells – plays a central role in the existence of life. Investing more than 30 years of research and developing sophisticated methods, Prof. Yonath rose to the challenge of revealing the ribosome’s structure. Her success provided essential input for the development of antibiotic drugs, and earned her the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2009.

Nobel Prize in Chemistry – Quasiperiodic Crystals

Distinguished Prof. Dan Shechtman

This scientist discovered a new class of matter – quasiperiodic crystals. In quasiperiodic crystals, atoms are ordered aperiodically, like tiles in medieval Islamic mosaics. Previously considered impossible by conventional crystallography, this discovery forced scientists to change the definition of crystal. The discovery won Prof. Shechtman the 2011 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Nobel Prize in Chemistry - The Development of Multiscale Models for Complex Chemical Systems

Prof. Arieh Warshel, Prof. Michael Levitt (zusammen mit Prof. Martin Karplus, Harvard Universität)

Prof. Warshel and Prof. Levitt took the chemistry of life from the laboratory to cyberspace, focusing on the structure and action of proteins and enzymes. They worked together in Israel to develop theoretical methods and computer programs, doing their earliest calculations on the Golem B computer home-built at the Weizmann Institute of Science. This pioneering work grew to become an entire field. They were awarded the 2013 Nobel Prize in Chemistry together with Prof. Karplus.

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