Israel

Israeli startup SpaceIL is gearing up for a second attempt to land the first ever privately-funded spacecraft on the Moon, after securing funds for a new mission with even loftier goals that is slated for launch in 2024.

The Israeli Ministry of Defense has successfully field tested an airborne High-Power Laser Weapon System. The solid-state laser weapon intercepted a number of drones at different altitudes and ranges at a testing field in the center of Israel.

The first nation-wide COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness study has been published, tracking nearly 5 million people fully vaccinated in Israel. The study found vaccination provides more than 95 percent protection from infection, severe illness, and death.

Israeli company H2Pro claims its highly efficient water-splitting technology will deliver green hydrogen at less than US$1 per kilogram before 2030. That would leapfrog current projections by 20 years, and spark green revolutions in many industries.

Israel's first attempt to land a spacecraft on the Moon has ended in failure. At about 7:23 pm Israel time, interrupted communications and an engine malfunction aboard the unmanned Beresheet lander resulted in the craft crashing into the lunar surface.

Space history was made again today as the first private mission to the Moon lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. At 8:45 pm EST, Israel's Beresheet lunar lander was lofted into space atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as it begins its two-month voyage.

Beer is generally thought to be about 7,000 years old, but now archaeologists have found clues that could date beer-making to almost twice that age, meaning it predates agriculture and represents the oldest record of man-made alcohol.

The Israeli Defence Force brings artificial intelligence to armored combat with the latest variant of its main battle tank​. The Merkava Mk 4 Barak is billed as the first tank to have an advanced AI and sensor system​ that takes over many routine tasks.

Israel has put in its bid to be the fourth nation to reach the Moon and the first privately-funded mission to do so. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and the nonprofit SpaceIL today outlined plans to send up an unmanned spacecraft that will make a lunar landing on February 13, 2019.

The origin story for modern humans basically goes that Homo Sapiens first arose several hundred thousand years ago in Ethiopia, before migrating out of Africa about 100,000 years ago. Now, a jawbone discovered in a cave in Israel pushes back the date of our African exodus by at least 50,000 years.

The Dead Sea Scrolls are among the most important historical texts ever discovered, and for decades archeologists have been searching for more. Now, for the first time in 60 years, a new cave has been excavated that once contained more Dead Sea Scrolls. Sadly, looters got there first.

Archaeological evidence proves that the Bible wasn't making stuff up: Hezekiah meant business when he said he was cracking down on pagans.