2021 Winners

We are proud to congratulate the Future Scientists Center’s students who represented us – with great honor – at the 2021 Young Scientists and Developers competition, held online. Of the 220 projects presented this year, 52 projects in the fields of exact sciences, life sciences, engineering, nature sciences and mathematics, informatics, social sciences, and history made it to the final round. The young scientists and developers who participated in the competition were accompanied and guided by the competition’s academic staff. They poured much effort into their research projects and recently presented and were tested on them by a panel of over 20 judges made up of researchers, engineers, science professionals, and other industry experts. The judges selected the most original and innovative projects.

Click here to view a compilation of all the abstracts of the projects that made it through to the final round.

Second place winners:

Ariel Priel, Alpha Program, Weizmann Institute of Science

asteroid twins in the asteroid belt

Abstract: Asteroids with a B spectral classification are suspected to contain water. The Osiris Rex space shuttle identified water on one of these asteroids, the asteroid knows as Bennu. In addition, the shuttle identified a surprising particle emission from the asteroid, one that is reminiscent of a comet’s behavior. It is possible that the particle emission is linked to the presence of ice on Bennu, as well as to its brittle structure (“a pile of gravel”) and its rapid rotation around itself, as expressed by its ball-like shape.During the course of this study, I examined the prevalence of these asteroids’ existence. For this purpose, astronomical observations of 16 asteroids that were similar to Bennu with respect to their spectral classification were held from the Wise Observatory in the Negev.I measured the change in these asteroids’ brightness to determine the length of their rotation, as well as their shape. I found that half of the asteroids took the form of a ball, similar to Bennu.From studying the B-classified asteroids, I was able to determine that 1.5% of asteroid belt entities are comets that have finished emitting dust. The space shuttle’s encounters with additional B-classified asteroids will support this estimation.

Shira Klein, Alpha Program, Ariel University

Stabilization of a miniature satellite using magnets

Abstract: A miniature satellite has a volume of 1 liter and a weight of 1 kilogram. When the satellite is released into outer space, it turns on its own axis. As such, to enable it to perform its role, there is a need for a stabilizing system capable of stopping the satellite from rotating.During this research project, an algorithm was developed to stabilize a miniature satellite, based on varying polarity magnet-based stabilization control. The algorithm receives the satellite’s angular velocity as parameters; Planet Earth’s magnetic field direction and force, as well as the axes of the magnets located on the satellite. The algorithm calculates the optimal moment of the force required to stop the satellite at any given moment, from which it also tabulates the electric current flow and polarity required to activate each of the magnets. To illustrate the algorithm’s capabilities, code was written to simulate the dynamic equations representing the satellite’s motion, in accordance with those optimal magnetic forces tabulated by the algorithm. An animation package was added to the code, visually representing how the satellite slows to a stop.The developed algorithm enables satellites to be stabilized efficiently and economically. The written simulation code can be used to study stabilization control methods, as well as to examine the influence of various sources on the satellite’s stabilization process. This project enables optimal stabilization control that is essential to inexpensive communication with Planet Earth, as well as precise photography, and the execution of astronomical measurements.

Tamar Meshorer, Alpha Program, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

A description of the nervous activity in the auditory cerebral cortex following the learning of auditory categories

Abstract: Little is known about the limits of human beings’ abilities to learn auditory categories, or the process and chain reaction of processing said information by the auditory cortex (AC).This study took place in two stages. In the first stage, the behavioral response of mice to various auditory stimuli was studied. It was found that the mice learned to generalize the rules of the learned categories, meaning that they engaged in a new auditory learning process. In the second stage, a link was examined between the frontal lobes (FC) and the AC.The study’s hypothesis was that the learned auditory information, as expressed through the mice’s behavior, would emanate from the frontal auditory areas, and then translate into action. The goal of this study was to locate anatomical connections between the AC and FC – in mice. The findings point to the fact that the AC generally transmits information to the orbitofrontal cortex. In addition, it was found that the highest level of processing in the auditory processing hierarchy, TeA, sends more axons to the orbitofrontal cortex than other auditory stations.The findings demonstrate how mice successfully learn to distinguish between two groups of stimuli, and that there is a link between the TeA and the FC. One can deduce that the TeA is important to the process of learning auditory categories, and can serve as a central processing station that mediates between the received stimuli and the animal’s behavioral response to said stimuli.

Third place winners:

Adam Jabar, Alpha Program, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

No clue how to translate these terms 

Abstract: Deep below the crust of the planet we call home, Earth, there is a mantle that no research has ever studied. In the upper part of that very mantle, chemical reactions that influence a variety of geological phenomena are taking place. One of the central reactions in this upper mantle is the melting reaction between the rocks, which comprise most of the mantle, and ecologit. The division of “trace elements” – their concentration as minerals divided by their concentration during the liquid state, teaches about the changes that take place in the system within which they are located.The goal of this study is to calculate the distribution coefficients of various trace elements in the garnet mineral within the system and under conditions that simulate a depth of 180 kilometers. The study was formulated using a machine that simulates the conditions within the planet’s upper mantle. The elements’ concentrations were measured using advanced analytical tools. Finally, the trace elements’ division coefficients within the garnet mineral were calculated. Observation of the division coefficient and the liquid element in the experiment reveal no change to the unique rock formation. Findings from additional studies point to the conclusion that the response leads to the creation of a “natural barrier” between the rocks made from the orotofican mineral.The findings of this study deepen and update our understanding of the response between in Planet Earth’s upper mantle.

Yahel Manor, Alpha Program, The Technion

Finding computerized hypotheses for continued fractions

Abstract: Continued fractions are mathematical objects comprised of nested fractions; these objects can – and have – served as proof of the irrationality of constants, which were open mathematical problems. Today, many constants that may or may not be rational still exist.This study saw he development of methods and algorithms that enable the identification of hypotheses that most efficiently involve continued fractions. The first algorithm is for the calculation of continued fractions using blocker-sized numbers (similar to how they are calculated using a computer). This algorithm is based on three different, dedicated techniques, and was found to be more efficient that the existing one. The second algorithm is an algorithm for identifying hypotheses linking continued fractions to mathematical constants. This algorithm is based on optimization methods, including gradient descent, and is the first of its kind to be based on these methods. I hope that it can serve as the first step towards a variety of new algorithms.

Naomi Snir, Idea Program, Tel Aviv UniversityFemale representation on France’s Chartres Cathedral, and its link to female patronage and the Virgin’s Rite

Abstract: Over the past few decades, research of the Middle Ages tended to focus on groups that had previously disappeared from researchers’ eyes, including women. Indeed, many new studies point to the special manner in which female images are portrayed on various objects at the Chartres cathedral in France, one of the standout creations of Gothic art. But why, in particular, does the Chartres cathedral contain so many representations of unique females, and why was it so central for women in the region?This study seeks to answer the question by analyzing the objects with respect to their historical context. The analysis clearly demonstrates the influence of Maria’s Rite and the phenomenon of female patronage on the cathedral’s design. The women of the region influenced the representative content within the cathedral by funding the objects it houses; the ecclesiastical establishment, on the one hand, sought to deepen the female bond to the cathedral, as well as to Maria’s Rite. As such, it went as far as to fund unique representations directed at women.This study paints a new picture of female activism and significant reciprocal relations between the church and women in the Middle Ages.

Omer Eyal, Alpha Program, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

The first nickel aerogel: A catalyst on the way to green transportation

Abstract: Aerogels are the lightest solid materials in the world. Their large surface area and high heat insulation and porous properties make them highly useful for many diverse industries. Metal aerogels were previously considered breakthrough materials possessing potential for green energy operations, but their development process is too expensive and complex, leading their usage to be limited.During the study, the world’s first nickel aerogel was developed, through an easy and economical production process. The process started with the dripping of nickel nano-fibers floating in water into liquid nitrogen. The drops froze, creating a solid gel. The ice was replaced with dried liquid acetone to create the aerogel.Attribution of the obtained nickel aerogel evidenced a porous yet uniform material with a very low concentration, high surface area, prominent magnetism, and high electrical conductivity. The combination of these properties with those already known to nickel, such as resistance to corrosion and hydrogenation, provide the aerogel with vast potential to serve as a chemical catalyst and important stepping stone on the way to green and efficient energy for vehicles.

Honorable mentions were won by:

Adam Bailey, Alpha Program, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Construction of a machine learning model for the prediction of developments in satellite galaxies

Abstract: The quenching state is significant to the development of galaxies. Satellite Galaxies (SGs) are galaxies that surround a central, significantly larger galaxy. The characteristics and interactions of SGs with their surroundings make them an important research subject, with respect to understanding the galaxy’s structure, as well as with respect to understanding its surroundings.The importance of this process leads one to ask the following questions: what factors influence the quenching process? Can machine learning be used to find said factors? Based on 118 examples of SGs from VELA cosmological simulations, dynamic systems including SGs over time were modeled using a dedicated software program – VIVID – that was developed in our lab. Taking the entire system into account, a number of characteristics were calculated: the shape of the galaxy, angular momentum, trajectory eccentricity, and more. Machine learning and modeling were applied to the selected characteristics, so as to help simulate the quenching process. The machine learning enabled the identification of three important characteristics for the simulation of the quenching process: trajectory eccentricity, the ratio of the masses between the central galaxy and the satellite, and the radius of the satellite galaxy. This study advances our knowledge on cosmology, and opens new doors to relevant research.

Adam Bransy, Alpha Program, Tel Aviv University

The influence of limiting the mitochondrial splitting process using mitoquinone on mitochondrial balance and cell mobility

Abstract:

Huntington Disease is a degenerative, genetic disorder that affects the nervous system and inhibits the patient’s motor, behavioral, and cognitive abilities. On a cellular level, the disease causes an arousal of the fission process, which, in turn, can adversely affect mitochondrial processes related to morphology (fission and fusion), and ravage the mechanism responsible for cellular migration. The Mito-Q antioxidant molecule can reduce the excess mitochondrial fission, and the Drp1 protein is the main cause of the fission process, which increases the rate of cellular migration. To study the connection between the mitochondrial fission process and cellular migration, the influence of Mito-Q on the level of Drp1 protein in Huntington patients’ fibroblast cells was examined, by photographing the cells over a 24-hour period and using immuno-fluorescent dye. The findings point to a significant decrease on Drp1 levels, and a significant increase in migration rate parameters, following the addition of Mito-Q.Namely, one can infer that there is a link between the cellular migration mechanism and the mitochondrial fission; a link that was previously unknown. By studying the link between those mechanisms that are involved in Huntington Disease, one can deepen one’s knowledge and develop treatment options.

Anjam Abu Rafa, Alpha Program, Ben Gurion University of the Negev

The contribution of transposons to genetic variations in wheat

Abstract: Transposons are segments of DNA capable of moving from one place to another within the DNA. This characteristic is made possible thanks to the use of enzymes that enable motion.This study examined genetic variations between two types of wheat – “Mother Wheat” and pasta wheat. Bioinformatics were used to compare the two types of wheat’s genomes. This, by amplifying unique sequences from each of the genomes using PCR and gel. Additionally, the MITE transposon in both genomes was monitored.The findings indicate that the transposons do, indeed, contribute to the genetic variations between the two types of wheat. The transposons are also an integral part – and make up 45% of – the human genome. This indicates that researching transposons in various creations can shed additional light on genetic variations between people as well.

Niv Gurnevich, Alpha Program, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Not sure how to translate the terms in this one

Abstract: Antibiotic-resistant bacteria serve as one of the most severe threats to public health… in the world. One of the leading solutions is the use of bacteriophages; viruses that attack bacteria. A number of Western countries, including Israel, are home to several lifesaving treatments that leverage phages. The phages are abundantly found in nature, but must be isolated to be used in treatments. In this study, new phages were isolated against the Klebsiella penumoniae bacteria. In addition, the study involved the development of a new method called “smart phages” that enables the scanning of large volumes of liquid to identify the presence of phages. This method allows for the increasing of the phages concentration in a sample by up to 1 million times, in comparison to the sample scanned using conventional approaches.The phages that were isolated in this study could be used for therapeutic purposes in the near future. This, as part of the ongoing activities run by the new Israeli Phages Bank, in order to establish and expand phage-based therapies in Israel. Furthermore, the developed methods can soon be used to isolate never-before located phages against stubborn pathogen.

Ilay Katz, Alpha Program, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

New use of chemogenic-receptor medical blockers for the improvement of motor and cognitive abilities following head injury, and the understanding of the medical mechanism as a whole

Abstract: In the aftermath of head injury, the brain experiences inflammatory activities that can last for months to even years. This inflammation harms motor, cognitive, and behavioral functioning. Despite the high prevalence rate of head injuries, they currently have no medical course of treatment. It is known that chemogenic receptors – CCR5 and CXCR4 – are linked to the activity and mobility of immune cells, as well as to neural activity in the brain. Plerixafor and Maraviroc are two medications (antagonists) hat block the above receptors. For this reason, they are used in treating AIDS, as well as in chemotherapy. To better understand the mechanism behind these medications and examine whether they can also be used to treat head injury patients, the amount of immune cells in the brain and blood were examined in mice at two different points in time following head injury and medication use, using immunologist markers.The findings demonstrate that both medications cause short-term reduction (just a few weeks) in the multiplication and increase in immune cells in the blood and brain, as a result of head injury. In addition, it was found that Plerixafor, as opposed to Maraviroc, has a longer effect, with respect to improving the penetration of the Blood-brain Barrier and decreasing the amount of microglia cells in the brain. Namely, one can infer that these medications could be used to support the treatment of people with head injuries. The results of this study create a foundation for further research on this subject.