ABC Student News: Curious Facts

Blue M&M's might be able to treat spinal injuries, scientists say

Researchers have been testing the effects of a compound called "Brilliant Blue G" on lab rats. The compound is a blue dye found in blue M&M's that gives them their distinctive color.

The researchers injected rats with spinal injuries with Brilliant Blue G. The compound improved recovery and reduced the lesions that came along with the injury. The way it worked is that the compound blocks another chemical that causes more cell damage during an injury, thus reducing the "secondary spinal cord damage" that the chemical causes. The result? The rats with spinal injuries that received treatment with Brilliant Blue G were able to walk again, while the control group rats that weren't treated were not. 

Now, before you start picking out blue M&M's to put into your first aid kit, it's important to note that the dye was only effective 15 minutes after sustaining the injury, it has to be absorbed intravenously, and one of the side effects is that the rats' skin turned blue.

Written by: Camila Vega 

ABC Student News: Book Review

Erin Dionne - Models Don’t Eat Chocolate Cookies

Rating: 5 stars!!!

Although I would recommend this for some younger female readers, I do admit it’s a fun read for the rest of the school girl population. If I didn’t make it clear before, there is absolutely no doubt that this book is aimed for girls – starting with the fact that the book’s central character is a 12 year old girl struggling through the infinite drama that is “pre-pubescence”; and the fact that this 12 year old girl is also trying to get out of a beauty pageant by losing weight. [I think we just lost some of the boys!] But, if you’re a boy - you’ve made it this far, what’s a couple of more lines? So… as said before, the book is basically about a slightly overweight 12 year old girl who is basically entered into a beauty pageant for “Husky Peaches”, against her will. So, as her last desperate attempt to get out of the pageant, she decides to lose weight in order to be disqualified from the pageant. The book transcends from her decision to lose weight to her actual procedure to do so - as many other things go on in her life throughout the book.

The Critic’s Corner: Bravo Erin Dionne, Bravo… Maybe it’s a biased opinion, but if I was Dali I’d artistically twirl my mustache at both its ends in admiration of the ART! Just saying… Not that it’s a perfect book but the way in which its unique plot harmoniously intertwines with its witty style deserves my round of applause. The fact that you can actually relate to Celeste [the central character of the story] – no matter who you are - and the fact that it’s Celeste that narrates the story throughout the whole book, immediately connects you to her world and makes you part of the book. In other words, Dionne’s attempt to connect the reader to the novel gives the reader a solid perspective of the story and also leaves the reader with no doubt on her mind on what the writer meant. So, next time you’re looking for a fun read, I’d recommend this book! Remember me when I say that after you finish this book: your review won’t vary much from mine.

Written by: Celina Milla