Researchers at Stanford University announced recently that they created a battery electrode that heals itself. This truly is extraordinary, and the implications for utilization not only in the battery world but throughout the smart-grid as well are enormous. Therefore could self-healing technology be a big investment theme for 2014? I absolutely think so. Cooper Power Systems, a subsidiary of Cooper Industries, which was acquired by Eaton (ETN 1.14%) in 2012, uses software, reclosers, and switches to self-heal power systems. Keep in mind Cooper's Yukon Feeder Automation software was installed by American Electric Power (AEP 0.71%) to improve grid reliability, so success there could bode for wider implementation.