Real Science, Things that squeak

Dyeing to walk again

Joe
Friday
4:13 pm

Which is cooler, being able to walk again after suffering a nasty spinal injury, or having bright blue appendages?

Researchers have given paralyzed mice (I’m sure they accidentally fell down some stairs) the gift of mobility by injecting blue dye.  And since Dr. Manhattan-hands are the only side effect, there’s a good chance it will be coming to a human near you.

It’s a similar principle to the controversial method doctors used on Buffalo Bills player Kevin Everett, who was on the brink of dying from a helmet-to-helmet hit.  But he ended up walking a few months later.  According to this line of research, reducing swelling in the spinal area, ..read more