Day 7: The Possibility of Zombies (Virus)

Zombies are terrifying- even with their slow shuffling gait, they still manage to strike fear into the hearts of the general populous. So what happens when we can no longer outrun this inexhaustible threat? Movies like 28 Days Later, Quarantine, & WWZ make a case for "fast zombies" created by a virus.

A Virus is an infectious agent that can survive and replicate only inside the cells of another living organism. Although not technically alive, Virus' target organisms and systems that best serve their survival goals. It even seems that virus' have the will and ability to take over the host organisms functioning (like parasites) in order to perpetuate function.

Case in point, Rabies is a virus which affects the central nervous system (CNS) in mammals. In humans, it causes fever, cough, restlessness, hallucinations, seizures, and death. The popular ideas of Rabies is the "mad dog" Cujo who undergoes a complete personality change to become a wild killing machine.

Now imagine that in humans?

Mad Cow Disease also effects the CNS. In humans, Mad Cow can mutate into Variant Crutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. The disease itself has no treatment and produces "zombie-like" symptoms such as dementia, psychotic behavior, and loss of motor function.

Not so far from feasible, right?


http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/virus

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/mad-cow-disease-overview?page=2

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/rabies-topic-overview

Day 6: The Possibility of Zombies (Neurotransmitters)

It's Sunday, a lazy day, so today we will just briefly go over the possibility of zombie creation by neurotoxin or neurotransmitter. I've heard it said that magic is only science we have yet to understand, and perhaps this is one such case. Technically, we have already addressed a good portion of this idea in the section on creating a Haitian zombie; where neurotoxins were used in conjunction with ritual to produce a zombie. However, we didn't spend a whole lot of time on the explanation of how such a thing would work or why.

A neurotoxin is a substance (usually a protein) that effects the functioning of neurons within the body- changing or inhibiting their ability to produce or receive transmissions.
A Neurotransmitter  is a substance that carries nerve impulse from one neuron to another and allows for proper functioning of every system in our body.

A change in neuron function could affect all kinds of changes within the body. As mentioned previously, Tetrodotoxin causes sensations of floating, speech impairment, paralysis, respiratory arrest, and even death, but there are a world of other substances that affect the way our brains work. Neurotransmitters, like Serotonin & Dopamine, are naturally occurring in the body and are known to effect brain cells related to mood, sexual desire and function, appetite, sleep, memory and learning, temperature regulation, and some social behaviors. Drugs to affect these neurotransmitters are currently on the market.

So is it too far fetched to believe that either through nature (or our own self important fiddling) that we might inadvertently change the functioning of the neurotransmitters in our brains and create the zombie apocalypse?

What if that new wonder drug does more than it's supposed to? Side effects: headache, listlessness, decrease motor function, overwhelming hunger for human flesh. Hmmmm.....

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neurotoxin.
http://www.webmd.com/depression/features/serotonin

Day 5: The Possibility of Zombies (Parasite)

Parasites are everywhere. In fact, we live with them for most of our lives in a balance that allows for their existence while maintaining our health. However, what if that balance was broken? Could Parasites be the cause of the zombie plague?

What are parasites and what do they do? A creature within. A creature that infests a host and lives off of the nutrients of that host until there is nothing left. Creatures that will stop at nothing to ensure their personal survival.

 

In fact, there are several known parasites that "control" their host at the cost of the host creature. For example, Toxoplasmosis gondii is found in rats. T. gondii forces rats to become attracted to cats with a seeming intent to get them eaten. The rats have no control, they walk willingly to their deaths. Toxoplasmosis is then passed to cats, who can then pass it to humans, and although there have been no documented cases of T. gondii taking control of an individual- who is to say it is not possible. And T. gondii isn't the only culprit. Dicrocoelium dendriticum is a parasite that takes control of ants. It not only forces them to perch on high leaves to wait to be eaten by local cattle, but also times the take-over for night to ensure that neither the ant or the parasite itself is damaged by the hot sun. Other insidious parasites, like Polysphincta gutfreundi, just make a home on a host species and then  suck it dry and, in this case, force it to build a nest for the parasite for after the host has died.

Point? Parasites are out there. Documented. Real. And while they haven't taken over anyone (to out knowledge) yet, we can see the potential they have to override a host's need for self preservation. Think    "The Happening (2008)", "The Thing (1982 recommended, 2011)", or even "Resident Evil".

Although I do have to throw in that parasites would probably never actually produce a zombie plague by definition because a parasite requires a living host- but still, imagine your world where humans have no free thought, were they are subject to the will of something that controls their actions and thoughts.

Resident Evil "Zombie" & Dog

Still pretty scary, huh?



References:
http://www.cracked.com/article_15643_5-scientific-reasons-zombie-apocalypse-could-actually-happen.html

http://www.businessinsider.com/scariest-parasites-in-the-world-2012-6?op=1

Friday Night Flick: The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988)

So this movie is essentially the culmination of everything we've talked about this week. Interestingly enough, it isn't necessarily what us modern enthusiast s might expect for a zombie movie. I mean there aren't very many zombies in the movie.

But I think it's a good representation of the culture and the process that spawned the Haitian zombie. Not to mention it's Wes Craven- so there is no shortage of thrills and chills horror fans expect, plus a little boob- which never hurts.

All and all it's an interesting watch and if you're looking an enthusiast or just looking for a zombie move thats a little different, it is a good choice.

What do you think?

Day 4: Making Zombies- the Haitian Way!

DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS AT HOME! Based on info from Wade Davis as found on his 1983 trip to Port au Prince, Haiti and described in his book The Serpent and the Rainbow which was adapted to film in 1988.

Osteopilus dominiensis- Tree frog secretes skin irritant

Datura Stramonium (Tropane Alkaloids)
Causes weak pulse, hallucinations, & deliruim

Puffer fish Toxin- Tetrodotoxin (neurotoxin) causes
sensations of floating, speech impairment, paralysis,
respiratory arrest, death

Charred Human Remains- no actual use except to make the
zombie creation process really, really creepy!

In theory, this powder is applied to the skin. Irritants, such as the liquid produced by the tree frog, the prickly edges of plants, or even glass, were used to open the skin to allow for easier transmission of the toxins. I would like to note, that the CDC only provided the listed side effects of Tetrodotoxin in regards to ingestion- not as a topical preparation, so I am unsure of how many of the listed affects would apply in this case. However, these items (as well as some others that may have been used) could produce a zombie-like state- going so far as to make the "zombie" appear dead upon cursory medical examination. Burial would be tricky and could definitely lead to oxygen deprivation and possible brain damage or death. 

For more information on the potion discovered by Davis, its properties and its holes, read this article!

http://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/strange-creatures/zombie1.htm

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Day 3: A Brief History of Zombies

The raising of the dead is not a new concept. The idea occurs in cultures across the world. Our idea of zombies starts with the Haitian "Zombi" or African "Nzambi". In these cultures, the zombie would be raised by a Bokor (witch doctor) through a ritual which included both incantations and the application of a potion (which will be described in a later post). The zombie would have no self recognition or free will and would mindlessly follow the commands of the Bokor who raised it, sometimes committing murder or other heinous acts as directed. Transformation into a zombie was occasionally used as a punishment for disobedient wives or children or just a means of destruction for an enemy.

While most of the stories of zombies are just lore passed down through communities- there are several cases of individuals who claim to have been turned into zombies. Most notable, is Clairvius Narcisse, a Haitian man who died in a local hospital in 1962, but was found in 1981 wandering his village. Narcisse told a strange story of having been buried alive, pulled from his grave by a local Bokor, and forced to work on a plantation for 2 years before he escaped. While Narcisse's story has never been fully substantiated, his tale sparked conversation and investigation in the possibility of the Haitian Zombie and beyond.

More recently, scientists, survivalists, and enthusiasts have worked to explain and prepare for the event of a zombie apocalypse- an idea presented by George A Romero (often called the father of the modern zombie) in the 1968 movie Night of the Living Dead. The movie introduced the idea of the zombie horde and
its' possible means of destruction for humanity as a whole. While the purpose of the movie was to sensationalize and frighten, the idea of the Zombie became no less plausible and has sparked research into the potential causes of the zombie apocalypse (which will also be discussed later in the week).

References OR for more info:

www.umich.edu/~engl415/zombies/zombie.html‎news.discovery.com/history/history-zombies-12-6-4.htm‎http://www.biology-online.org/articles/dead_man_walking.html