This year in , we鈥檝e reported on everything from Ebola-fighting robots and high-tech fall prevention to an academic rehab program for concussions. Here's a best of 2014 stocking stuffer for the New Year.
: One reason Ebola hasn鈥檛 taken off more widely in the United States and elsewhere is that it鈥檚 spread only by direct human-to-human contact involving bodily fluids. What if technology could create distance between the virus and the health care worker 鈥� remove the human touch?
: In 2011, more than 60,000 Texans older than 50 were hospitalized for falls. And 95 percent of hip fractures are the result of falls. Those who do fall are afraid of falling again. High-tech gear is helping some people get over their fear of falling -- and helping others prevent future falls.
: Ordinary sewing thread can have superhuman power. That鈥檚 according to researchers at UT Dallas who discovered fishing line and sewing thread can be cheaply converted to powerful artificial muscles 鈥� no Rumpelstiltskin required.
