How to Control an Army of Zombies

New York Times ^ | December 5, 2012 | Carl Zimmer

[nickcarraway]

In the rain forests of Costa Rica lives Anelosimus octavius, a species of spider that sometimes displays a strange and ghoulish habit.

From time to time these spiders abandon their own webs and build radically different ones, a home not for the spider but for a parasitic wasp that has been living inside it. Then the spider dies — a zombie architect, its brain hijacked by its parasitic invader — and out of its body crawls the wasp’s larva, which has been growing inside it all this time.

The current issue of the prestigious Journal of Experimental Biology is entirely dedicated to such examples of zombies in nature. They are far from rare. Viruses, fungi, protozoans, wasps, tapeworms and a vast number of other parasites can control the brains of their hosts and get them to do their bidding. But only recently have scientists started to work out the sophisticated biochemistry that the parasites use.

“The knowledge that parasites can manipulate their hosts is old. The new part is how they do it,” said Shelley Adamo of Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, a co-editor of the new issue. “The last 5 to 10 years have really been exciting.”

In the case of the Costa Rican spider, the new web is splendidly suited to its wasp invader. Unlike the spider’s normal web, mostly a tangle of threads, this one has a platform topped by a thick sheet that protects it from the rain. The wasp larva crawls to the edge of the platform and spins a cocoon that hangs down through an opening that the spider has kindly provided for the parasite.

To manipulate the spiders, the wasp must have genes that produce proteins that

[Berlin_Freeper]

A VERY ZOMBIE HOLIDAY

[Chipper]

In the world of Homo Sapiens we use phones, EBT cards, and cheese to make zombies.

[Bryanw92]

>>In the world of Homo Sapiens we use phones, EBT cards, and cheese to make zombies.

In most cases, that doesn’t make zombies. It just brings out their latent zombie traits and then sustains them. In the movies, zombies moan, “Brainsssss”. In the real world, they screech, “Entitlementssssss”.

[Trod Upon]

Don’t forget the compliant “news”/propaganda organs of the 0bamamedia.

[RightOnline]

" In the movies, zombies moan, “Brainsssss”. In the real world, they screech, “Entitlementssssss”."

So in the real world, our "zombies" are, in fact, "brainssssss-less". Agree completely.

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

Q: What do vegan zombies eat?
A: GRAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIINS!!!!!

[null and void]

Control their EBT cards...

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMG-LWyNcAs

The magnificent ‘Body Invaders’ video from National Geographic (about 5 minutes). And their selection of creepy music was superb.

Plus, Zombie City Hall:

http://www.angryflower.com/brains.gif

[Cold Heart]

I brought up the subject with my brother about cat toxoplasmosis where cat's parasites were controlling mice & people's brains. Well, brother had studied parasitology in college and let me in on a whole slew of critters running around loose in our society. I'm not paranoid because they really are out to get us:)

[Titan Magroyne]

bmfl

[green pastures]

In the world of Homo Sapiens we use phones, EBT cards, and cheese to make zombies.

I thought we used the ballot box-- something happens when they're sent to DC....

[txhurl]

lofl

[RandallFlagg]

Been a while, FRiends.

[Marcella]

“In the world of Homo Sapiens we use phones, EBT cards, and cheese to make zombies.”

Give someone bath salts and they rip off their clothes and eat your face.

I actually saw a TV documentary on zombies today. The only way we can have them now is with bath salts. The docs on that program think a virus unknown to them right now, could spread between humans could make zombies - people who can't control their brains like the bath salts causes now.

They showed a guy on bath salts in a cop car and his behavior was like a demented wild man - twisting, gross mouth gyrations, arms/hands twisting in strange positions. You would not get close to that individual. Really, putting a bullet in his head would stop that but nothing else was at that time.

On bath salts, these people have enormous strength and it takes several cops to take that person down and keep him down and they strap him down in a hospital. I recall reading about one where the guy wasn't strapped tight enough and he tried to attack the face of a nurse who was doing something at the bedside.

So, the point is, zombies can be made because bath salts does it - now, what else could cause it? No one knows - yet.

[Chipper]

I’d really like to see that if you can recall the program or network. Thanks.

[Marcella]

“I’d really like to see that if you can recall the program or network. Thanks.”

National Geographic has “Zombie Island” at 8 pm central time today. The title on the TV is “Drugs Inc.” That is about drug dealing in Puerto Rico. It is NOT the one I saw. The one I saw had “Zombies” in the TV title which is why I clicked on it.

I am going through my TV channels now to see if the one I saw is on again today. It is a new program with up to date information so it is going to be shown again and again. I was flipping through channels yesterday and don’t remember which one it was on but it has to be one that shows documentaries. If I find it, I’ll come back on here and tell you.

[Marcella]

I FOUND IT! It’s on DSC channel at 9 pm central time today and again at 12 midnight. It’s “Zombie Apocalypse”.

It starts off being about people preparing for a Zombie invasion.

[Chipper]

Thank you!! Can’t wait to check it out.

[Marcella]

I’m so glad you were on your computer and found my posts to you. I was afraid you might be away from your computer all day and would miss the program. I’ll watch it again today.