The Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel is one of the most outstanding research institutes in the world with many practical achievements to its credit. Let's take a look at what lies behind these achievements.
The Weizmann Institute of Science lies in the heart of green vegetation.
The institute was chosen several times by 'The Scientist' magazine as one of "the best places to work in Academia".
Here you can find all kind of researchers at work - some are trying to defeat cancer while others are creating materials never seen before.
In this lab Prof Reshef Tene and his team are creating tiny crystals called Nano particles. Nano particles can only be created under laboratory conditions.
Because of the extra small size of the crystals, the atoms within them are arranged in structures not seen in nature and this results in completely different qualities.
[Professor Reshef Tenne, Head of Department, Materials and Interfaces]:
"The best example that we always give is gold. A gold molecule or atom is colorless. Gold, when you look at my ring, is yellow as you see. In the nano regime, when you take ten or fifty or a hundred atoms of gold, they make a red suspension.
You see the nano tube, this is an experiment which was carried out by my former student Dr. Yifat Kaplan Ashiri, She takes such nano-tube, she glue(s) it to two pins and she compress(es) the nano tube in order to break - and it doesn't break. And that shows you that synthesis, [very precise synthesis like the one that we do] can lead to mechanical properties and to other properties which have never been seen before. So this is a beautiful demonstration of the importance of nano science and nano technology."
We move on now to a different area of the Weizmann institute where Doctor Nisim Ofek and his colleges are studying the behavior of electrons.
[Dr. Nissim Ofek, Department of Condensed Matter Physics]:
"I can make sure that the two electrons I inject from here and here, will always get out simultaneously in these two points, so basically synchronize between two people at distance."
There is a long way to go from discovering to utilizing.
Luckily for the scientists, the Weizmann institute owns a company called 'Yeda' which is responsible for commercializing their discoveries and ideas.
Commercialization, though, according to professor Reshef, is never the cause for the research.
[Prof. Reshef Tenne, Department Head, Materials and Interfaces]:
"The Weizmann institute is a unique place in the world, there's no doubt about it. And the reason for that uniqueness is the complete freedom that we have here. Complete freedom in the sense that we are allowed to think and to develop our own Ideas with no intervention, with no manager what so ever in this entire institute that will go into my room and tell me -- you have to work on this problem or on that problem."
Judging by their achievements so far, this approach seems to work for the Weizmann Institute.
Reporter: Yaara Argov
Photographer:Anat Markam
NTD News, Rehovot, Israel
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FlotillaCrew 4 months ago
Such beautiful people, the Jews! May all their neighbours and friends be blessed (an Australian offering)
MrGodkid 4 months ago