By Sabrina Sun | Staff Writer

Although not identical to the gadgets portrayed in retro sci-fi flicks, 2015 presented many significant technological advancements. These inventions hold the potential to limit life-threatening issues, such as cancer or road-accidents.

Despite the considerable progress which has been made in both research and treatment, cancer still claims 7.6 million lives worldwide. Four million of these cancer-caused deaths are premature. Dr. Dennis Lo, a researcher in the Chinese University of Hong Kong, has devised the ‘liquid biopsy’, a method of early cancer screening that only requires a simple blood draw. The biopsy detects the unusual DNA sequences shed by cancer cells within the bloodstream. The detection of undeveloped cancer allows for immediate treatment while it is still curable. The simplicity of this biopsy may provide affordable routine screenings and save countless lives in the future.

Another life-threatening issue is road accidents. An average of 3,287 road traffic crash related deaths occur daily on a global scale, making road accidents the ninth leading cause of death. Vehicle to vehicle (V2V) communication may reduce the number of road-accident fatalities.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is currently funding research in the development of a globe-wide vehicle transmitter-fueled network. The self-driving technology of Google’s Self-Driving Project and Tesla’s Model S vehicle may seem impressive. However, the V2V network, once fully established, will detect other vehicles’ presence and accurately calculate the probability of collision at an extensive range. With the aid of vehicle to vehicle communication, not only can millions of deaths be avoided but elderly and handicapped drivers will be able to drive without worry.  

These breakthroughs will decrease tragic death tolls and hopefully help handicapped individuals live normal, independent lives.