Innovative treatments may transform the management of lower back pain by addressing the root causes associated with inflammatory “zombie” cells. Recent research conducted using mice.
A group of scientists, led by researchers from McGill University in Canada, found that a combination of two medications, O-Vanillin and RG-7112, effectively eliminates zombie cells from mouse spinal tissues, alleviating pain and inflammation symptoms.
“Our results are promising because they indicate that by eliminating cells that not only obscure pain but also contribute to issues, we can approach lower back pain treatment in a novel manner,” stated the senior author, Professor Lisbet Haglund from McGill’s Ministry of Surgery.
Zombie cells, also referred to as senescent cells, do not function like typical cells. Rather than undergoing division and death to make way for new cells, they persist in the body.
As we age, these zombie cells can build up, leading to inflammation, pain, and spinal damage.
For the hundreds of millions of adults globally suffering from back pain, the impact of zombie cells is often masked and inadequately addressed by current medications.
This new treatment, however, aims to alleviate back pain by targeting and eliminating these lingering zombie cells, thereby addressing the underlying issues.
Aging or zombie cells accumulate in the shock-absorbing discs between each spinal vertebra, releasing inflammatory molecules that damage discs – Credit: Nemes Laszlo/Science Photo Library via Getty
The McGill research team discovered this promising new treatment while working with mice genetically engineered to develop spinal injuries and lower back pain over seven months.
The researchers administered varying doses of O-Vanillin and RG-7112 to these mice. Some received only one of the drugs, while others received a combination of both.
RG-7112 is a medication already established to remove zombie cells in various contexts, though it hasn’t been applied to lower back pain treatment until now.
O-Vanillin, a natural compound sourced from turmeric, is recognized for its anti-inflammatory benefits, but had not been previously tested against zombie cells.
After 8 weeks of treatment, mice receiving both drugs at higher doses exhibited the lowest levels of zombie cells, inflammation, and pain.
Those treated with a single drug showed some improvement, but the results were not as significant as those achieved with the combination therapy.
“The pressing question now is whether these medications can produce the same effects in human subjects,” Haglund remarked.
The Zombie Apocalypse might sound like an ideal chance to eliminate your debts and catch up on reading 28 Years Later, but surviving in undead-infested wastelands isn’t a walk in the park.
When the Danny Boyle film debuted, we spoke with survival experts and professional preppers about what to do—and what not to do—and gathered their tips on navigating an apocalypse scenario. After all, the zombie apocalypse feels less like fiction now than it did a few years ago.
Stay Safe at Home
John Rammy, founder of The Prevent, a Survivalist Company, advises against investing in a bunker. “Instead of focusing on bunkers,” he explains,
“we should concentrate on reinforcing our current homes and communities. It’s essential that your doors can withstand multiple kicks. Your home is your fortress, providing a secure space during emergencies.”
He encourages contemplating how long one could stay inside their home. “If I had to lock myself in right now, how long could I last?” he asks.
“The initial goal should be a two-week supply, covering most emergencies like natural disasters. Some go further and prepare to last for six months. Personally, I am prepared to survive indefinitely, as I can grow food, find water, and purify it.”
As frightening as it sounds, being unprepared means being vulnerable. According to Ramey, stocking up on essential gear is crucial. “Consider Maslow’s hierarchy of needs: food, water, health, and communication,” he notes.
“First aid supplies are essential. Have sanitary products available—can you clean yourself properly? Water storage is vital. Generally, aim for one gallon of water per day.
“In the long run, do you know how to collect and store water? Make sure you have purification systems like filters or UV purifiers to ensure you can drink safely from natural sources.”
It’s also crucial to have a “bugout bag,” a pack of essential supplies ready for quick evacuation. Cameron Carlson, a survival expert and member of the Zombie Research Association, suggests the following items:
“Waterproof matches, an emergency blanket, a sleeping bag, freeze-dried food, a flashlight, batteries, a solar radio, a water purifier, a camping stove, a knife, a firearm, and a medical kit.”
“A useful tip is to include steel wool and a 9-volt battery. Touching the battery to the steel wool can ignite it, and steel wool is compact and lightweight.”
Ramey also recommends bicycles. “The bicycle is the ultimate bug-out vehicle,” he states. “It’s the most efficient human-powered machine ever made.
“Whenever experts watch The Walking Dead, one common complaint is that after eight years, people are still relying on gasoline vehicles. Gasoline tends to expire in six months. Though additives can extend its life, finding usable gasoline within a year can be challenging.”
Essential Skills
Having supplies is of no use if you lack the skills to utilize them effectively.
“Core skills include first aid and understanding how to treat injuries,” Ramey explains.
“Consider characters like Daryl from The Walking Dead. If he suffered an injury from a crossbow bolt, would you know how to assist? Modern society is advanced, yet we’ve lost centuries of survival skills over just a single century.”
“Many of our grandparents possessed at least rudimentary knowledge of treating wounds. Even standard first aid courses typically assume you can call for help—there’s often an expectation for emergency services to arrive promptly.”
Outdoor survival skills are equally vital. “Additionally,” Ramey adds, “many people no longer know how to navigate without technology. There’s a phenomenon known as ‘death by GPS.’ So, do you know how to read a map? Can you start a fire? Can you build a shelter for winter?
“Less obvious yet essential skills include conflict resolution and situational awareness. Are you aware of your surroundings? Do you know how to defuse a tense situation without resorting to violence?”
There may come a time when you need to leave your home in search of safety. But where should you head?
If you’re in New York or London during a zombie apocalypse, you might want to head to the countryside, away from the crowds, Rammy suggests. “Yet even in such a scenario, isolation may become undesirable, as community becomes essential.”
“Community cooperation generally proves more beneficial than the stereotype of the lone wolf wandering off into the sunset with a shotgun slung over their shoulder.”
The prevailing belief that humanity will descend into chaos after an apocalyptic event is challenged by Michał Zalewski, author of A Practical Ending: A User’s Guide to the End of the World, who argues against this notion.
“Most individuals will likely suffer in silence rather than harming innocents,” he asserts. “The real danger during times of uncertainty is the tendency to react against ‘outgroups.’ However, in a zombie scenario, we have a defined enemy.
“And as we slow down, we are not machines. We need rest and recuperation. It’s impossible to master every necessary survival skill against every potential disaster.”
Dealing with Zombies
What about the zombies themselves? According to zombie aficionado Cameron Carlson, it all hinges on their nature—whether they’re fast and rabid (think 28 Days Later) or sluggish (like in The Walking Dead).
“If they are fast, there’s no outrunning them,” he admits. “Stealth becomes imperative, enabling you to maneuver away from their line of sight. If faced with fast-moving zombies, tactics are essential.”
“Against slower zombies, your main task is evasion.”
Carlson also suggests utilizing dogs for their acute sense of smell, which is superior to ours. “Dogs serve as excellent early warning systems. If your dog starts acting oddly—growling, showing teeth, or restlessly pacing—it’s a signal that something’s wrong.
Interestingly, a significant contrast exists between the UK’s and the US’s gun ownership cultures. How might this affect survival outcomes in a zombie apocalypse?
“It has its pros and cons,” Rammy states. “In cases where zombies are approaching, having a shotgun could be your last line of defense. In that sense, American gun culture provides certain advantages.
“However, it also means that in a society breaking down, many people will be armed. We’ve witnessed over the past two years that even during milder emergencies, a significant portion of the population can become erratic and difficult to manage. So, it’s a double-edged sword.”
Meet Our Experts
John Rammy is the founder of The Prevent, a Survivalist Company. He leverages his Silicon Valley background to advise the US government and Department of Defense on emergency preparedness technologies.
Cameron Carlson serves as a spokesperson for the Zombie Research Association. Currently active in the US Navy, he specializes in anti-piracy operations while studying disaster relief effectiveness and outdoor survival.
Michał Zalewski is a computer security expert and author of A Practical Ending: A User’s Guide to the End of the World.
Here’s a piece of scriptwriting advice: simplify the plot while adding complexity to the characters.
The narrative of 28 Years Later can be summarized in a few sentences. This long-awaited third chapter of the series that began in 2002 with 28 Days Later revolves around a neurotoxic virus that has spread uncontrollably across Europe, turning people into an army of infected (which some might call zombies, though the term isn’t explicitly used). The infection ultimately becomes contained within the UK, safeguarded by the International Fleet to prevent anyone from escaping the island.
A young boy named Spike (played by newcomer Alfie Williams) resides in the relative safety of a small northern island linked to the mainland by a causeway that is passable only at low tide. At 12 years old—an age his father thinks makes him ready—Spike ventures onto the mainland in search of adventure. He navigates through the possibly long-abandoned woods. While there may not be much tracking after 28 years, the film showcases Spike skillfully battling slow-moving zombies and avoiding the much quicker ones, all while providing some context for these encounters.
Upon his return, despite his mother (Jodie Comer) being bedridden with an unknown illness, Spike is hailed as a hero, while his father, Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), seeks comfort with another woman. Determined, Spike sneaks out to find the only doctor he knows about to help his mother.
Let’s throw in a twist. However, introducing a twist often implies that there isn’t one. Author Alex Garland, who set the rules of the world in 28 Days Later, stays true to his vision. The world is thriving yet shadowed by the remnants of an earlier outbreak, where some zombies have mutated, growing larger and posing new challenges. These are not just recycled dangers but add complexity within Spike’s idyllic yet troubled village.
Visually, the film offers a unique experience. Boyle incorporates elements reminiscent of Laurence Olivier’s Henry V wartime newsreels and original footage of the 28 Weeks Later outbreak, providing a contemplative layer to the community’s defenses. It evokes a sense of folk horror, nodding to films like Apocalypse Now and Alien 3. Yet, despite its depth, the film remains accessible, conveying themes of loss, disillusionment, and personal growth through the relatable actions of its characters.
The budget is reasonable (estimated between $60 million and $75 million), with a keen eye for casting (like Christopher Fulford as Spike’s grandfather, who brings depth to a tragic backstory). Don’t be mistaken: 28 Years Later is filled with clever nods and callbacks that will engage fans. However, there is no unnecessary complexity. No contrived MacGuffins, pointless quests, or mystical items. Spike’s journey, portrayed expertly by Alfie Williams, is a relatable and poignant evolution, where he learns that to grow into manhood, he must let go.
The acclaim for 28 Days Later back in 2002 still resonates, as does its 2007 sequel 28 Weeks Later, which was equally impressive. The crown for this genre, at least for now, belongs to 28 Years Later.
Boyle and Garland have triumphantly revisited the territory they first explored over two decades ago.
Bolivian “zombie” volcanoes are displaying signs of activity; however, scientists assure that the risk of an eruption is minimal at this time.
The majestic summit of the Central Andes, Uturuncu, last erupted around 250,000 years ago.
For many years, researchers have noted unusual occurrences, including minor earthquakes and distinctive “sombrero” ground deformation patterns. The center of the volcano is gradually rising while the surrounding land sinks.
The cause of this phenomenon has yet to be determined.
A recent study published in the journal PNAS has identified pressure pockets, indicating that heated liquids and gases are still in motion beneath Uturuncu, causing surface deformations.
An international team of researchers from China, the UK, and the US has leveraged seismic data from over 1,700 earthquakes to create the most detailed three-dimensional representations of the volcano’s subsurface structure.
They discovered liquid rock rising from the Altiplano Puna Magma body, a large reservoir of partially melted rock located deep within the Andes.
GPS station with Cerro Uturuncu in the background. – Duncan Muir, Cardiff University
As these liquids ascend through narrow vertical channels, they gather just below the summit of the volcano, creating a reservoir of gas and brine. Instead of new magma being injected, this fluid movement seems to sustain Uturuncu’s ongoing activity.
“Our findings illustrate how integrated geophysical and geological methods can enhance our understanding of volcanoes and the hazards and potential resources they entail,” stated Professor Mike Kendall from Oxford University, a co-author of the study.
Notably, the researchers found that gas accumulation underground is relatively low, indicating a reduced likelihood of a significant eruption at this time.
These findings are intended to reassure the local community while highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring. Uturuncu is among numerous “zombie” volcanoes globally; these are classified as dormant yet still exhibit internal movement.
“This methodology can be applied to over 1,400 potentially active volcanoes,” remarked co-author Professor Matthew Pritchard from Cornell University. “This approach may also be relevant to other dormant volcanoes like Uturuncu that demonstrate signs of life.”
Currently, Uturuncu remains restless beneath the surface but is not prepared to awaken just yet.
oThe NA shelf between the Alexander McQueen shoes, Louis Vuitton handbags and Versace heels in the police evidence room is an 18-inch machete and a serrated zombie knife. According to DCI Paul Curtis, the tools needed to achieve that are in addition to expensive fashion purchased along with serious fraud revenue.
“These are serious criminals, and for some reason they felt the need to have these to protect themselves,” he says. Another tool is “Sim Farms” purchased from Dark Web. This is used by scammers to send many text messages at once. Laptop stack. Mobile phone and payment card reader.
The corruption of tools and crime comes from raids led by dedicated card and payment crime unit (DCPCU). observer I visited this month. Taking responsibility for revealing payment fraud across the country and charging the perpetrators, London and a group of police officers from the metropolitan police are at the forefront of the fight against fraud.
DCI Paul Curtis says fraud is “underreported and causes great harm.”
The National Crime Agency (NCA) estimates that 40% of crimes are fraud-related. It places the amount lost to billions of people each year. Revealing the criminals behind payment fraud is a difficult struggle.
There are many problems. Criminals are often based overseas and take advantage of the constant advancement in technology that dupes victims. But one difficulty is simple and common. This means that people are so embarrassed that they fell for fraud that they can’t mention it to those around them. “It’s underreported and causes great harm,” Curtis says. “And the harm is not just financial.” Victims can lose their sense of self-confidence and create mental health issues, which can even lead to suicide.
“It’s really challenging to overcome people’s own embarrassment and shame,” he says. “It’s about getting comfort and communicating to people from that network around you, like from your family. [and] From your social network. And if people have that support, it can be very empowering to them [they can] They then report and engage with law enforcement. ”
Guardian Recently, we have revealed details of sophisticated mercenary tactics used by scammers in an elaborate business based in Tblisi, Georgia. Many were called again and again by criminals, and more and more persuaded to hand over money.
Curtis says criminals in fraud cases use similar methods to criminals who are sexual predators when grooming victims. “It works exactly the same as a scammer. They have to build confidence with the victim. They have to build that trust. So this may not be a quick process to become a victim of a scam,” he says.
Louis Vuitton’s bag was seized in the assault
Technological advances present a continuing problem with the DCPCU. Money can now travel across borders at a much faster rate than before, leaving it out of reach of law enforcement, and ads for fake investment vehicles are often praised for being supported by celebrities like those that happened in MoneySavingexpert’s Martin Lewis.
According to Bendaldson, managing director of economic crime for the UK Finance Association, a banking organization that funds the DCPCU, artificial intelligence can use patterns to create text, images or videos on existing data – the development of a generation AI that gives criminals new opportunities.
“I think it gives [criminals] There are a variety of features they didn’t have before, and… some of this technology is easy to use and easy to use.
“It’s much easier to do that [fraud] In a very convincing way [as] There are now a variety of capabilities available to criminals, changing the nature of the threat. Admission bar [with] That type of technology is always low,” Donaldson says.
Which of the UK’s finances and consumer groups this month? I wrote a joint letter to the British government They ask technology companies to “robust action” to offset the increased costs of fraud.
Donaldson says the majority of approved push payments (APP) scams involve training someone to voluntarily send money from a bank account. The decision announced in January to remove fact checkers and reduce censorship by Facebook raises concerns that it will make it even easier for criminals to exploit people, he says.
Police are seeking more effective user verification to prevent criminals from operating anonymously, and to share more information that can identify them.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, says it has begun mutual exchanges of fraudulent information. This allows banks to share information about fraud. This has deleted 20,000 accounts. Tiktok says each request for data from police will be investigated and evaluated before data is disclosed.
So, when scams swell and come to people through emails, texts, WhatsApp messages, and many social media channels, what can people do to stay safe?
Donaldson handles your personal information the same way you handle keys in your home. “Please do not hand over any aspect of your personal information unless you trust someone with the door key.”
Please envision the setting. It’s Halloween, and you decide to take a daring walk through a cemetery on the edge of town.
As the sounds of trick-or-treaters fade away, a dense fog creeps in and envelops the tombstones. It already has the vibe of a scene from Scooby-Doo, but things are about to escalate.
You trip and tumble, landing face-first in the debris, where you come across a decaying hand protruding from the ground. The digits are contorted. Long, gnarled nails. You attempt to scream, but the sound gets stuck in your throat.
Where is Velma Dinkley when you require her? Then you take another look and realize it’s not a hand after all. It’s a dead person’s finger (Xylaria polymorpha). It may appear to be on the end of a deceased person’s arm, but it’s actually a fungus.
Dead Man’s Finger Reaching Out of the Ground – Credit: Nik Taylor
A brief introduction to fungi: Fungi cannot consume food like animals or produce food like plants or algae. Instead, they secrete enzymes that break down nearby organic matter, releasing nutrients that they can absorb.
Unfortunately, despite its zombie-like appearance, this fungus decomposes dead wood, not bodies. It emerges from the decaying roots of hardwood trees like beech and oak. Hence the first part of its Latin name “Xylaria” which means “grows on trees.”
The second part of the Latin name, ‘polymorpha,’ means “various shapes” and reflects the fact that this fungus changes its appearance over time. When it sprouts in the spring, it forms clusters of three to six pale to dark gray “fingers,” each with a pale “claw” at the top.
However, when mature in winter, each finger can reach up to 10 cm (4 in) tall and be dark brown to blue-black in color. This has led to descriptions likening it to a decaying finger, burnt wood, or a mummified penis. Fungi spread by producing spores as they cannot move, and in this case, the fingers act as the fruiting bodies.
Like many fungi, X. polymorpha has two modes of reproduction: asexual and sexual. Asexual reproduction results in genetically identical copies of the fungus. It occurs in spring when the fungus releases spores called conidia from its surface.
On the other hand, sexual reproduction involves the release of ascospores through an upper opening. When ascospores from different parents fuse, a new genetically distinct fungus is produced.
Despite its odd and somewhat grotesque appearance, this fungus provides a food source for various invertebrates that feed on its nutrient-rich remains.
But refrain from trying to consume it yourself. A 2018 study found that this eerie-looking fungus contains toxins similar to those found in deadly mushrooms like the death cap. Consume it, and you might end up in the graveyard!
Explore our fantasticfun factsand other captivating science articles.
With their bulging red eyes and alien-like mating sounds, periodical cicadas may seem scary and weird, but some of them are speed-freak, sex-crazed zombies that have been hijacked by super-sized fungi.
West Virginia University mycology professor Matt Casson, his 9-year-old son Oliver, and graduate student Angie Macias have been tracking a pesky fungus called Massospora cicadina, the only fungus on Earth that can hijack an animal’s body to make amphetamines (a drug known as speed)—and sure enough, it’s taking over cicadas, increasing their sex drive and spreading a parasite that’s transmitted sexually.
“They’re zombies, totally at the mercy of the fungus,” says John Cooley, a cicada researcher at the University of Connecticut.
The fungus has the largest genome of any known fungus—about 1.5 billion base pairs, Casson says, making it about 30 times longer than any common fungus we know—and while the periodical cicada lives underground for 17 years (13 years in the southern U.S.), its spores typically remain underground as well.
“It’s been a mycological oddity for a long time,” says Casson, “and it has the largest genome, produces wild compounds, keeps its host active, and has a whole host of other strange characteristics.”
Matt Cusson, a professor of mycology at West Virginia University, dissects fungal tissue from the posterior abdomen of a female periodical cicada infected with the fungus Massospora cicadina.Carolyn Custer/AP
This year, Casson decided to ask people to send him infected cicadas from around the country, and despite his injured leg, he, his son, and Mathias traveled from West Virginia to the Morton Arboretum outside Chicago, where they reported a fungus that takes over the lower half of the cicada’s body, discarding its reproductive organs and replacing them with a rather conspicuous mass that’s white, sticky but flaky. The spores then spill out like salt from a shaker.
Infected cicadas can be hard to spot.
Ten seconds after jumping off the golf cart, Macias was in the trees, looking around. She triumphantly raised the semi in the air and shouted, “I got it!”
“That was just luck,” Oliver complained.”
“Luck, eh? Good luck,” Macias replies.
Ten seconds later, Oliver spotted another bird in the bushes next to him, and a little later the photographer spotted a third.
Casson is tracking the only bacteria on Earth that produces amphetamines in living organisms when it takes control of them.Carolyn Custer/AP
Kasson and his small team collected 36 infected cicadas during a quick trip around Chicago, and another 200 or so have been sent in from elsewhere. He’s still waiting for the results of an RNA analysis of the fungus.
Some cicada experts estimate that one in every 1,000 periodical cicadas is infected with the fungus, but that’s just a guess, says Gene Kritsky, a biologist at Mount St. Joseph University who has written a book about the fungus. This year’s unique double appearanceHe said the numbers could be skewed because healthy cicadas tend to stay higher in trees.
“This year’s fungal situation is business as usual and not particularly unusual,” Cooley said in an email.
Scientists debate whether the fungus burrows deep underground and then infects the cicadas that emerge after 13 or 17 years, or whether it infects newly hatched larvae as they make their way underground for more than a decade.
The fungus isn’t a parasite that kills its host, but rather needs to keep it alive, Casson said. Infected cicadas will try to mate with other cicadas, spreading the spores to their mates/victims. Males may also become hypersexual and pose as females to lure and infect other males, Casson said.
Test tubes containing live periodical cicadas infected with the fungus Massospora cicadina await field processing at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois, on June 6, 2024.Carolyn Custer/AP
A related species of the fungus that infects annual cicadas in the West also produces psychoactive compounds in the cicadas that are more similar to hallucinogens like magic mushrooms, Kasson said. That’s why some people, even experts, confuse the amphetamines produced by infected 17- and 13-year cicadas with the highly hallucinogenic compounds in the annual insects, he said.
Out of scientific curiosity, Casson experimented on one during this emergence, ensuring that it was taken from the body of a female, which was more sterile.
“It was really bitter,” Cason said, explaining that she quickly rinsed her mouth. “It tasted like poison.”
It’s finally here. Once every 200 years, two flocks of periodical cicadas will emerge from the ground.
Across much of the US, billions of winged insects are emerging from the ground in search of a mating opportunity, but an unlucky few have been infected by a mysterious pathogen that is transforming them into flying insects. The salt shaker of death.
Are you locking the door and hiding under the covers? Before you do, hear this: Although zombie insects sound like the plot of a low-budget ’70s horror movie, they’re completely harmless to humans, plants, and pets, so feel free to marvel (probably from afar) as one of nature’s most powerful forces takes control.
Why do cicadas turn into zombies?
Cicada species live all over the planet, but the species currently abundant across the US are called “periodic cicadas,” which spend years underground as larvae before emerging as adults to mate.
Currently, two so-called “swarms” occur simultaneously in parts of the eastern U.S.: one that appears every 13 years, the other every 17. If you live in an area where this phenomenon is occurring, you’ll notice that it’s accompanied by a noise that’s louder than traffic.
The current occupation is expected to continue until the end of June, by which time most of the cicadas will have died and their eggs will have hatched and burrowed underground for another 13 to 17 years.
“One of the main reasons for this periodic emergence is to prevent predators from developing specialized ways to catch them,” says Dr. Jonathan Larson, an entomologist at the University of Kentucky. BBC Science Focus.
The only exception, Larson said, is Massospora cicadaina. “It’s likely that the disease will play a long game and remain dormant and not cause any symptoms until the cicadas emerge as adults above ground,” he said.
Once above ground, the infected cicada’s normally hollow body fills with white fungal spores and the abdomen bursts open to reveal what Larson describes as a “chalky white mass.”
Once exposed, the spores are free to infect other cicadas…
read more:
How bacteria reproduce
Imagine a third of your body being filled with a harmful pathogen. You might not feel too great, and for good reason. However, infected cicadas can carry on with life as normal. In fact, the fungus changes the cicada’s behavior in some pretty significant ways.
“They can continue to act normally as if they are not infected, which allows them to continue spreading the virus,” Larson explains.
What is normal cicada behavior? After 17 years (or 13) underground, all they have on their mind is finding a mate. Male cicadas shake their abdomens to attract females, hence the loud explosion. Infected males do the same, killing unsuspecting females.
But the fungus has another trick up its sleeve.
“Female cicadas flap their wings in response to the loud, boisterous calls of males,” Larson explains, “but if the males are infected, they also start flapping their wings, fooling other males into thinking they’re mating with the female.”
How cicadas manage to stay alive with so many parts of their bodies packed with spores remains a mystery, but scientists have found some clues in recent years.
Billions of cicadas will emerge in the United States this year in a once-in-200-year event. – Image credit: Getty
For example, a study published in the journal Fungal EcologyIt turns out that the fungus produces a type of amphetamine in its mass, which is used as a powerful human stimulant. Massospora Cicadina Will it stick?
Larson explains that it’s not clear exactly how the psychoactive substances affect the cicadas, but that the insects must be stimulated in some way. “That’s the real zombification part: They’re doing their job, they’re alive, but they’re just going through the motions. The lights are on, but no one’s home,” Larson says.
Should we worry about zombies?
First, the percentage of infected insects is very small, less than 5%, but 5% out of billions or even trillions of insects is still a lot of zombies flying around.
Thankfully, this fungus is specialized for cicadas. Massospora Cicadina ‘ is just a little hint so you don’t have to worry about infecting yourself.
“Transmission tends to be very localized, so while there are hotspots, it’s not common everywhere,” Larson said.
However, if you are planning to eat cicadas, you should definitely be careful. Yes, there are a lot of people out there who eat cicadas. Spicy Popcorn Cicada RecipeIf you’re interested, however, you should definitely avoid eating infected varieties.
“If you’re catching cicadas, the infected ones will be noticeably different,” Larson says. “If some fall off and you see a whitish lump, throw it away and don’t eat it.” Who would have thought eating insects infected with a pathogenic zombie fungus would be a bad idea? Everyone would.
About our experts
Jonathan Larson He is an entomologist and assistant professor at the University of Kentucky who provides his insect expertise to those dealing with problems in urban landscapes, lawns, nurseries, greenhouses and the home, and he is co-host of the informative insect podcast, The Insect Podcast. Arthropods.
White dwarfs, known as “man-eating stars” by scientists, are not just a concept from a Stephen King novel set in space. They are born through the process of swallowing surrounding planets and asteroids, leaving visible scars.
Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery in solving the mystery of these cannibal stars by finding traces of metal on the surface of one such white dwarf star for the first time ever.
“We’ve never seen anything like this before,” said study co-author John Landstreet, a professor at Western University in Canada. These findings are reported in the Astrophysics Journal Letter.
The white dwarf in question, WD 0816-310, is now the size of Earth and is the remnants of a star that was once as large as the Sun.
Using the Very Large Telescope (VLT) at the European Southern Observatory in Chile, researchers detected the concentrated metals on the scar of the cannibal star using the VLT’s FORS2 instrument, often referred to as the “Swiss Army Knife.”
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Experts believe that a planet or asteroid disintegrated as it neared the white dwarf, forming a ring of debris around the dead star. WD 0816-310 then consumed part of this debris ring, leaving behind traces of specific chemicals on its surface, akin to evidence of food theft around a child’s mouth.
Additionally, scientists observed variations in the strength of metal detections on the star as it rotated, resembling changes in the magnetic field.
It was discovered that the magnetic field drew these metallic elements into the man-eating star, concentrating them at its poles and creating a distinctive “scar” in those areas.
These observations provide valuable insights into the composition of exoplanets and shed light on how stars interact with planetary systems even after their “death,” showcasing that WD 0816-310 is not just a “man-eating” star but also a “zombie” star.
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