Now, with an even faster adoption rate of smartphones, there is a need for a renewed focus on voice control for the unique capabilities of these devices, especially for the use of apps.

ENGADGET: Ford opens AppLink developer program, wants more apps with in-car voice control

This is thanks first to the DNA sequencing technology introduced by 454 Life Sciences (now part of Roche), and then to the even faster, cheaper technology introduced by Illumina, which is now the dominant maker of DNA sequencing gear.

FORBES: Government Unveils First Map Of All The Germs In The Human Body

Germany's mighty Deutschmark, now locked into the euro, dropped even faster against the US dollar between 1995 and 1997 then it did as part of the euro during the past two years.

BBC: The euro: Still in the doldrums