Comments on: The Zombie Next Door: The Science of the Walking Dead http://blog.spout.com/2008/10/14/the-zombie-next-door-the-science-of-the-walking-dead/ Daily coverage of what is truly interesting in the film world Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:05:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: So What’s The Cause Of A Zombie Apocalypse? « You’re Under Attack http://blog.spout.com/2008/10/14/the-zombie-next-door-the-science-of-the-walking-dead/#comment-126863 So What’s The Cause Of A Zombie Apocalypse? « You’re Under Attack Wed, 06 May 2009 15:26:52 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=6108#comment-126863 [...] Click here to continue reading >> 0 Comments No Comments so far Leave a comment RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI Leave a comment Click here to cancel reply. Line and paragraph breaks automatic, e-mail address never displayed, HTML allowed: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <pre> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong> [...] [...] Click here to continue reading >> 0 Comments No Comments so far Leave a comment RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI Leave a comment Click here to cancel reply. Line and paragraph breaks automatic, e-mail address never displayed, HTML allowed: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <pre> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong> [...]

]]> By: Albert http://blog.spout.com/2008/10/14/the-zombie-next-door-the-science-of-the-walking-dead/#comment-124572 Albert Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:45:29 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=6108#comment-124572 do they have zombie in this world please tell me and im scare do they have zombie in this world please tell me and im scare

]]> By: ref http://blog.spout.com/2008/10/14/the-zombie-next-door-the-science-of-the-walking-dead/#comment-118987 ref Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:04:16 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=6108#comment-118987 I agree that World War Z is the best Zombie depiction so far. The Walking Dead is great stuff too! I agree that World War Z is the best Zombie depiction so far. The Walking Dead is great stuff too!

]]> By: Kelly Van Rijn http://blog.spout.com/2008/10/14/the-zombie-next-door-the-science-of-the-walking-dead/#comment-116344 Kelly Van Rijn Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:45:13 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=6108#comment-116344 "When there is no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth". Or, be elected President, if that empty suit, no brain Obamanation gets in... “When there is no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth”. Or, be elected President, if that empty suit, no brain Obamanation gets in…

]]> By: Random News Table for October 17th | UncleBear http://blog.spout.com/2008/10/14/the-zombie-next-door-the-science-of-the-walking-dead/#comment-115606 Random News Table for October 17th | UncleBear Sat, 18 Oct 2008 00:03:39 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=6108#comment-115606 [...] The Zombie Next Door: The Science of the Walking Dead | SpoutBlog In the 1980s, Harvard ethnobiologist Wade Davis went to Haiti to try to track down a physiological basis for Voodoo zombification. He discovered that the bokors used a special “zombie powder” to induce trances in victims, which could apparently last for years. The powder contains a poison known as tetrodotoxin, or TTX. [...] [...] The Zombie Next Door: The Science of the Walking Dead | SpoutBlog In the 1980s, Harvard ethnobiologist Wade Davis went to Haiti to try to track down a physiological basis for Voodoo zombification. He discovered that the bokors used a special “zombie powder” to induce trances in victims, which could apparently last for years. The powder contains a poison known as tetrodotoxin, or TTX. [...]

]]> By: Ducking the Dead http://blog.spout.com/2008/10/14/the-zombie-next-door-the-science-of-the-walking-dead/#comment-115596 Ducking the Dead Fri, 17 Oct 2008 21:30:46 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=6108#comment-115596 My only problem with the most plausible zombie scenario, the 28 days later rabid human version, is that is makes fatal flaws about biology and physics in general. First of all, for a creature to move that fast and burn that much energy its metabolism would have to be amped up. That would require loads of energy and while it certainly would explain flesh eating, its important to note that human beings can only eat one pound of raw flesh at a time (someone fact check). So unless this hyper rabies is somehow accompanied by a bizarre urge to cook and start fires the zombie creatures would probably die out faster than they could spread. Many modern terror inducing diseases, i.e. Ebola/Marburg, suffer from another fatal flaw that is often ignored in the movies. They kill victims very quickly and as a result they can't spread fast enough to create a global pandemic. That is why a disease like AIDS is so successful at spreading, it takes years to kill its victims and is largely asymptomatic. A disease like Ebola or the "Rage" virus however, incubates quickly and kills its victim quickly as well (or should if the basic laws of biology weren't suspended). This would make zombie outbreaks isolated affairs, or at the very least controllable. The less plausible Dawn of the Dead zombie scenarios are more easily dismissed on the grounds of entropy, a chemistry student tried to explain it to me once but I didn't get it. My only problem with the most plausible zombie scenario, the 28 days later rabid human version, is that is makes fatal flaws about biology and physics in general. First of all, for a creature to move that fast and burn that much energy its metabolism would have to be amped up. That would require loads of energy and while it certainly would explain flesh eating, its important to note that human beings can only eat one pound of raw flesh at a time (someone fact check). So unless this hyper rabies is somehow accompanied by a bizarre urge to cook and start fires the zombie creatures would probably die out faster than they could spread.

Many modern terror inducing diseases, i.e. Ebola/Marburg, suffer from another fatal flaw that is often ignored in the movies. They kill victims very quickly and as a result they can’t spread fast enough to create a global pandemic. That is why a disease like AIDS is so successful at spreading, it takes years to kill its victims and is largely asymptomatic. A disease like Ebola or the “Rage” virus however, incubates quickly and kills its victim quickly as well (or should if the basic laws of biology weren’t suspended). This would make zombie outbreaks isolated affairs, or at the very least controllable.

The less plausible Dawn of the Dead zombie scenarios are more easily dismissed on the grounds of entropy, a chemistry student tried to explain it to me once but I didn’t get it.

]]> By: Wigs http://blog.spout.com/2008/10/14/the-zombie-next-door-the-science-of-the-walking-dead/#comment-115589 Wigs Fri, 17 Oct 2008 19:34:19 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=6108#comment-115589 Shaun of the Dead is the best and most realistic zombie movie made so far. Shaun of the Dead is the best and most realistic zombie movie made so far.

]]> By: rm2kking http://blog.spout.com/2008/10/14/the-zombie-next-door-the-science-of-the-walking-dead/#comment-115529 rm2kking Thu, 16 Oct 2008 22:00:57 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=6108#comment-115529 I Am Legend is not a zombie movie, it is a vampire movie. Read the damn book. I Am Legend is not a zombie movie, it is a vampire movie. Read the damn book.

]]> By: Dead Runner http://blog.spout.com/2008/10/14/the-zombie-next-door-the-science-of-the-walking-dead/#comment-115524 Dead Runner Thu, 16 Oct 2008 20:00:52 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=6108#comment-115524 What do you mean slow zombies are more scary than 28 days later rage infested (Hooligan) zombies? 28 days and weeks later freaked me right the fuck out. Had me wondering what would happen in case a virus like this actually broke loose, so me and my buddies started making an escape plan, which with some modifications can be converted onto other catastrophes. It's a fun braingame, try it. Later I heard that there actually is a virus like this being tested somewhere. Tried looking it up, search was fruitless. Supposedly the virus made the labrat's muscle tissue grow by up to 30%, made it extremely violent and socially unstable (killing fellow labrats on sight). To top it off, supposedly the spawnrate would increase even beyond the capabilities of a normal rat. What do you mean slow zombies are more scary than 28 days later rage infested (Hooligan) zombies? 28 days and weeks later freaked me right the fuck out. Had me wondering what would happen in case a virus like this actually broke loose, so me and my buddies started making an escape plan, which with some modifications can be converted onto other catastrophes. It’s a fun braingame, try it.

Later I heard that there actually is a virus like this being tested somewhere. Tried looking it up, search was fruitless. Supposedly the virus made the labrat’s muscle tissue grow by up to 30%, made it extremely violent and socially unstable (killing fellow labrats on sight).
To top it off, supposedly the spawnrate would increase even beyond the capabilities of a normal rat.

]]> By: zombiefreak.com » Zombie Science http://blog.spout.com/2008/10/14/the-zombie-next-door-the-science-of-the-walking-dead/#comment-115498 zombiefreak.com » Zombie Science Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:42:30 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=6108#comment-115498 [...] article titled The Zombie Next Door: The Science of the Walking Dead at spout.com. Here’s a little blurb: For the walking dead to go from being a mere nuisance to [...] [...] article titled The Zombie Next Door: The Science of the Walking Dead at spout.com. Here’s a little blurb: For the walking dead to go from being a mere nuisance to [...]

]]> By: cjarmstrong http://blog.spout.com/2008/10/14/the-zombie-next-door-the-science-of-the-walking-dead/#comment-115491 cjarmstrong Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:12:50 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=6108#comment-115491 Have you read "World War Z" by Max Brooks yet? It presents the best depiction, in many opinions, of a global zombie apocalypse. Have you read “World War Z” by Max Brooks yet?

It presents the best depiction, in many opinions, of a global zombie apocalypse.

]]> By: Stuff to Look At - 10/16/08 | s00per.com ( · )( · ) hand check! http://blog.spout.com/2008/10/14/the-zombie-next-door-the-science-of-the-walking-dead/#comment-115490 Stuff to Look At - 10/16/08 | s00per.com ( · )( · ) hand check! Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:20:26 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=6108#comment-115490 [...] The Zombie Next Door:  The Science of the Walking Dead (Story/Pic) [...] [...] The Zombie Next Door:  The Science of the Walking Dead (Story/Pic) [...]

]]> By: Jim Jones http://blog.spout.com/2008/10/14/the-zombie-next-door-the-science-of-the-walking-dead/#comment-115486 Jim Jones Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:44:38 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=6108#comment-115486 Wow that is pretty scary! Right around Halloween too! www.Privacy-Center.net Wow that is pretty scary! Right around Halloween too!

http://www.Privacy-Center.net

]]> By: FilmZone http://blog.spout.com/2008/10/14/the-zombie-next-door-the-science-of-the-walking-dead/#comment-115478 FilmZone Thu, 16 Oct 2008 07:55:20 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=6108#comment-115478 Nice article. The I am Legend film is based on a book which tries to show the zombies in a different light, it's a great read. However, they had to change the films ending to suit the film audiences more. Nice article.

The I am Legend film is based on a book which tries to show the zombies in a different light, it’s a great read. However, they had to change the films ending to suit the film audiences more.

]]> By: I mustaschen på Rickard Berggren » Argh, zombies! http://blog.spout.com/2008/10/14/the-zombie-next-door-the-science-of-the-walking-dead/#comment-115477 I mustaschen på Rickard Berggren » Argh, zombies! Thu, 16 Oct 2008 07:39:38 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=6108#comment-115477 [...] ni har lite tid över och ett udda intresse för zombies, som jag, så är denna artikel väldigt kul! Den handlar bl.a. om sannolikheten av en zombieapokalyps, hur det i så fall skulle [...] [...] ni har lite tid över och ett udda intresse för zombies, som jag, så är denna artikel väldigt kul! Den handlar bl.a. om sannolikheten av en zombieapokalyps, hur det i så fall skulle [...]

]]> By: Krazd http://blog.spout.com/2008/10/14/the-zombie-next-door-the-science-of-the-walking-dead/#comment-115476 Krazd Thu, 16 Oct 2008 07:37:03 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=6108#comment-115476 interesting article, I read an article somewhere about a microorganism reanimating a human brain for a few hours. I don't know if it was a spoof, but I do remember reading it a while back interesting article,

I read an article somewhere about a microorganism reanimating a human brain for a few hours. I don’t know if it was a spoof, but I do remember reading it a while back

]]> By: Ashur420 http://blog.spout.com/2008/10/14/the-zombie-next-door-the-science-of-the-walking-dead/#comment-115470 Ashur420 Thu, 16 Oct 2008 07:10:58 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=6108#comment-115470 you forgot www,thanatosinstitute.com their work will surely bring on a zombie apocalypse (hopefully with me as the controller). you forgot www,thanatosinstitute.com

their work will surely bring on a zombie apocalypse (hopefully with me as the controller).

]]> By: Charlie http://blog.spout.com/2008/10/14/the-zombie-next-door-the-science-of-the-walking-dead/#comment-115468 Charlie Thu, 16 Oct 2008 06:29:00 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=6108#comment-115468 Check out my article on zombies and a zombie survival guide: http://shadowspydre.blogspot.com/2008/06/zombie-survival-guide.html Check out my article on zombies and a zombie survival guide:
http://shadowspydre.blogspot.com/2008/06/zombie-survival-guide.html

]]> By: Ruth http://blog.spout.com/2008/10/14/the-zombie-next-door-the-science-of-the-walking-dead/#comment-115439 Ruth Wed, 15 Oct 2008 18:51:23 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=6108#comment-115439 You would enjoy Jonathan Maberry's latest book. An avid zombie movie fan since childhood, this former martial arts instructor got tired of seeing the humans fail and wondered what a modern-day zombie crime scene would look like to detectives. The story begins with an alleged solitary zombie attack and includes interviews with detectives, medical examiners, and even the military for their input on solving the crime and fighting back. The story is paralleled by historical zombie commentary complete with illustrations from a variety of disturbed artists. While this one truly is for a zombie fan's the bookshelf, it also satisfies crime scene mystery lovers who want a new kind of "what if" scenario. Jonathan Maberry Multiple Bram Stoker Award winning author of ZOMBIE CSU: The Forensics of the Living Dead www.zombiecsu.com www.myspace.com/jonathan_maberry You would enjoy Jonathan Maberry’s latest book. An avid zombie movie fan since childhood, this former martial arts instructor got tired of seeing the humans fail and wondered what a modern-day zombie crime scene would look like to detectives. The story begins with an alleged solitary zombie attack and includes interviews with detectives, medical examiners, and even the military for their input on solving the crime and fighting back. The story is paralleled by historical zombie commentary complete with illustrations from a variety of disturbed artists. While this one truly is for a zombie fan’s the bookshelf, it also satisfies crime scene mystery lovers who want a new kind of “what if” scenario.

Jonathan Maberry
Multiple Bram Stoker Award winning author of ZOMBIE CSU: The Forensics of the Living Dead
http://www.zombiecsu.com
http://www.myspace.com/jonathan_maberry

]]> By: Adam http://blog.spout.com/2008/10/14/the-zombie-next-door-the-science-of-the-walking-dead/#comment-115428 Adam Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:51:56 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=6108#comment-115428 Am I just one disaster away from eating human flesh? You got me thinking. Reminds me of books like "Alive" and "In the Heart of the Sea." Am I just one disaster away from eating human flesh? You got me thinking. Reminds me of books like “Alive” and “In the Heart of the Sea.”

]]> By: Dick Buist http://blog.spout.com/2008/10/14/the-zombie-next-door-the-science-of-the-walking-dead/#comment-115397 Dick Buist Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:13:05 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=6108#comment-115397 Join the attempt at a world record zombie walk at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=46318061944&ref=mf Join the attempt at a world record zombie walk at:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=46318061944&ref=mf

]]> By: Ian http://blog.spout.com/2008/10/14/the-zombie-next-door-the-science-of-the-walking-dead/#comment-115377 Ian Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:44:05 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=6108#comment-115377 "the most pressing apocalyptic threat of all: zombies" I couldn't agree more. “the most pressing apocalyptic threat of all: zombies” I couldn’t agree more.

]]> By: John http://blog.spout.com/2008/10/14/the-zombie-next-door-the-science-of-the-walking-dead/#comment-115376 John Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:43:42 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=6108#comment-115376 This isn't zombie related, but have you seen this movie?: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECqF6ZB-jmk This isn’t zombie related, but have you seen this movie?:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECqF6ZB-jmk

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