In Spain's Basque Country, some of the oldest residents are getting the newest communications technology. The region is piloting a system that allows doctors to monitor elderly patients remotely using motion sensors originally developed for Microsoft's Xbox.

A company involved in creating genetically modified mosquitos has another project nearing outdoor testing. The U.K.-based Oxitec has applied to release genetically modified olive fruit flies under netted olive trees in Spain, the BBC reports. The flies are a major pest to olive crops.