Wired.com is reporting that scientists at Johns Hopkins have had encouraging results in an experiment involving stem cells and rats stricken with ALS, a.k.a. Lou Gehrig’s Disease, which is a degenerative neurological condition. The scientists injected stem cells into the spinal cords of the rats; not only did the stem cells develop into functional nerves that linked to the rats’ existing nervous system, but the new cells also resisted the disease until the rats died.

You may recall that I’ve had some first-hand experience with this disease. I’m realistic enough to know that we’re still a long way from any kind of stem-cell therapy for ALS, let alone a cure, but this is nonetheless a very, very welcome development. I’d like nothing better than to see this shit eradicated in my lifetime…