If one counts the olive press and the grape (or wine) press, we can find 75 inventions by Israelis that have changed the world. Here they are:
- Kibbutz – 1909: Kibbutz Degania was the first of hundreds of collective settlements founded by idealistic pioneers
2. Zaksenberg juicer – 1928: Iconic citrus juicer invented by Yitzhak Zaksenberg
Wonder Pot – 1930s: Once-popular aluminum pot for baking on a gas stove
3. Krav Maga – 1948: Military self-defense system developed for the IDF and used around the world
4. Uzi – 1954: Submachine gun that was one of the first weapons to use a telescoping bolt design
5. Feldenkrais Method – 1954: Type of exercise therapy devised by Moshe Feldenkrais that claims to improve body movement and psychological state
6. Sussita – 1960: Fiberglass-shelled cars that were popular in Israel during the 1960s and 1970s
7. Bamba – 1964: Iconic peanut-butter-flavored snack made by Osem
8. Drip irrigation – 1965: Israel’s mega contribution to global agriculture
Cherry tomatoes – 1973: Israel’s mega contribution to global agriculture after drip irrigation
9. Rav Bariach – 1973: The ultimate steel security door
10. RSA encryption – 1977: A public-key cryptosystem that is widely used for secure data transmission
11. 8088 processor – 1979: Revolutionary microprocessor developed by Intel in their Haifa lab
12. Interferon proteins – 1970s: Michel Revel of the Weizmann Institute of Science discovered that interferon communicates with cells via a receptor on the cell wall
13. Merkava tank – 1979: Main battle tank used by the IDF
Ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation – 1980: Aaron Ciechanover, Avram Hershko and Irwin Rose won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for this discovery
Unmanned planes – 1981: First UAV developed by the Israel Aerospace Industries
14. Quasiperiodic crystals – 1982: Prof. Dan Schechtman from the Technion won a Nobel Prize in Chemistry
15. Taki – 1983: Popular card game developed by Haim Shafir
16. Dalkan – 1983: System for refueling company vehicles without a wallet
Bio-Bee Biological pest control – 1984: Breakthrough by the company from Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu
17. Epilady – 1986: Cost effective, mess-free alternative to shaving and waxing for women around the world
Differential cryptanalysis – late 1980s: Study of how differences in information input can affect the resultant difference at the output
18. Arrow (Hetz) – 1990: Effective anti-ballistic missile system
19. Babysense – 1992: Highly sensitive baby breathing monitor
20. Digital printing press – 1993: Revolutionary printing press invented by Benny Landa, founder of Indigo Digital Press
21. Firewall – 1993: Computer network security system
22. NIR heart stent – 1995: Life-saving medical device invented by Medinol’s Kobi and Judith Richter
23. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) – 1995: PC-to-phone software solution developed by VocalTec.
24. Copaxone – 1996: Teva’s groundbreaking drug for treating certain forms of multiple sclerosis
25. ICQ – 1996: Messaging platform that was a global hit at the time
26. Quicktionary – 1997: Portable scanning translators produced by Wizcom Technologies Ltd.
27. Babylon – 1997: Single-click computer translation, dictionary and information source utility program, by Amnon Ovadia
28. Gaga – 1998: Style of modern dance invented by Ohad Naharin
29. NDS VideoGuard – 1998: Conditional access for pay-TV
30. TDMoIP – 1998: Emulation of time-division multiplexing over a packet switched network, developed at RAD Data Communications
31. EyeQ chip – 1999: Mobileye’s custom accelerator processor chip
32. USB flash drive – 2000: Invented by Dov Moran
33. Exelon – 2000: Drug for treating mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s
34. PillCam – 2001: By Given Imaging, enables the visualization and detection of disorders of the gastrointestinal tract
35. Like-A-Fish – 2001: Innovative tankless diving gear
36. MyHeritage – 2003: Popular online genealogy platform with headquarters in Or Yehuda
37. Azilect – 2005: Drug for Parkinson’s disease developed at the Technion and commercialized by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries
38. 3G Solar – 2003: Low-cost alternative to silicon-based PV solar modules
39. Mazor Robotics’ Spine Assist – 2004: First robot approved for spinal surgery
40. Wix – 2006: Cloud-based web development services
41. Zenith Solar – 2007: Modular high-concentration photovoltaic system (HCPV)
42. Waze – 2008: The navigation app that helps drivers avoid traffic
43. BriefCam – 2008: Video-synopsis technology that lets viewers rapidly review and index original full-length video footage
44. Solaris Synergy – 2008: Environmentally friendly and economically beneficial way to float solar panels on water
45. Rosetta Genomics – 2008: MicroRNAs as effective biomarkers
46. Trophy – 2009: Rafael’s active protection system for armed vehicles
47. Gett – 2009: App that connects between customers and taxi drivers using its proprietary GPS system
48. ReWalk – 2010: Bionic walking assistance system that enables paraplegics to stand upright and walk
49. WeWork – 2010: Pioneers of shared work space
50. OrCam MyEye – 2010: Portable artificial vision device that allows the visually impaired to understand text and identify objects through audio feedback
51. Viber – 2010: Proprietary cross-platform instant messaging app for smartphones
52. WeCU Technologies – 2010: Technology able to identify people in real time
53. Wind Tulip – 2010: Cost-effective, silent wind turbine by Leviathan Energy, designed as an environmental sculpture
54. Iron Dome – 2011: Air defense system developed by Rafael and Israel Aerospace Industries that intercepts short-range rockets and has saved innumerable lives
55. Moovit – 2011: App that uses crowdsourced and official public transit data to provide real time route planning for users of public transportation
56. Solar window – 2011: Developed by Pythagoras Solar, these windows combine energy efficiency, power generation and transparency
57. TraitUP – 2011: A new technology that enables the introduction of genetic materials into seeds without modifying their DNA, developed by Hebrew University scientists
58. 3D tethered particle motion system – 2011: 3D tracking of critical protein-DNA and protein-RNA cell interactions, developed by three Bar-Ilan University professors
59. GridON Keeper – 2011: Three-phase fault current limiter developed at Bar-Ilan University
60. HydroSpin – 2012: Unique internal pipe generator that supplies electricity for water monitoring and control systems in remote areas and sites without electricity
61. Elya Recycling – 2012: Innovative method for recycling plastic based on a specialized formulation of natural ingredients
62. Electric car – 2012: Better Place CEO Shai Agassi developed infrastructure for electric cars as an alternative to fossil fuel technology
63. TACount – 2012: Real-time microbiology that enables the detection of harmful microorganisms in a matter of minutes
64. Elbit Space Imaging Systems – 2017: A compact “space camera”
65. Judean date palm revival – 2020: Extinct cultivar restored by reviving an ancient seed
66. WatchPAT – 2020: The first FDA-approved portable diagnostic device for treating sleep apnea at home
67. GridON Keeper – 2011: Three-phase fault current limiter developed at Bar-Ilan University
68. HydroSpin – 2012: Unique internal pipe generator that supplies electricity for water monitoring and control systems in remote areas and sites without electricity
68. Elya Recycling – 2012: Innovative method for recycling plastic based on a specialized formulation of natural ingredients
69. Electric car – 2012: Better Place CEO Shai Agassi developed infrastructure for electric cars as an alternative to fossil fuel technology
70. TACount – 2012: Real-time microbiology that enables the detection of harmful microorganisms in a matter of minutes
71. Elbit Space Imaging Systems – 2017: A compact “space camera”
72. Judean date palm revival – 2020: Extinct cultivar restored by reviving an ancient seed
73. Azilect, a drug for Parkinson’s disease, by Moussa Youdim and John Finberg from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology- 74: Solar panels for heating water – 1955: The still ubiquitous dud shemesh harnesses the local climate to save electricity
- 75. Olive press and wine press: Ancient Israelis invented a way to extract oil from olives and juice from grapes
Important Palestinian inventions, according to answers from Quora and other sources:
1. Improvised cheap and disposable mortar and Kassam missile launchers
2. Al-Quds rocket used against Israel
3. Innovative use of party balloons for starting fires and burning crops of Israelis over the border of Gaza
4. Modern sling shots that are friendly to use, even for small children, against Israeli soldiers or civilian cars.
