Tuesday 12 March 2013

Ep 148: Zombies Part 1



Zombies have been fodder for science fiction books and movies for years, but could we actually create one in the lab? And why indeed would you want to do this? Surely the whole "eating brains" concept would mean that making one is probably not in your best interests.

This week on the podcast, Dr Boob takes us on a journey through zombie science fiction, Haitian zombies and zombie-style animals in nature, including a fascinating scenario where ants are hijacked by a fungus. This episode is part 1 - next time we will tackle, among other things, brain parasites, eating brains (cultural, cooking and animals that do it), mad cow disease, the 'zombie' bath salts attacks (face eating), and a mathematical model of a zombie pandemic.

We have looked at zombies in the past. In the post Correlation of the Week: Zombies, Vampires, Democrats and Republicans we looked at how the political party of the US presidency seems to influence the style of science fiction movie made during their presidency. A recent upsurge in zombie films could augur well for the Republicans next time round, although there are still plenty of vampire films and TV shows around.

The song at the end of the podcast is by copperhead / CC BY-NC 3.0

Tune in to this episode here.

6 comments:

  1. Yes, I have also some terrible memory regarding watching "zombies" movies. I want to share my personal experience. It was around almost 2'oclock at night and I was alone at home watching this movie sitting at my Electric Power Wheelchair and it was cold winter season and all my family members has gone to one of my uncle's homes for dinner. Anyhow come back to the movie. I watched deeply this movie, all of a sudden I saw one zombie has entered the room and follow the guy and has grabbed him, and start to eat his brain. After seeing this scene of eating I closed my TV and feel so much unsafe at home. After this event, I immediately call to my dad and asked him to come back as soon as possible.

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  2. Indeed, I have additionally some horrible memory with respect to watching "zombies" motion pictures. I need to share my own insight. Whenever I was working in an enterprise app development company. It was around practically 2'oclock around evening time and I was distant from everyone else at home watching this film it was the virus winter season and all my relatives have gone to one of my uncle's homes for supper. At any rate return to the film. I observed profoundly this film, out of nowhere I saw one zombie has gone into the room and follow the fellow and has gotten him, and beginning to eat his mind. Subsequent to seeing this scene of eating I shut my TV and feel so much risky at ease. After this occasion, I quickly call to my father and requested that he return straightaway.

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