Register

5 Scientific Reasons a Zombie Apocalypse Could Actually Happen

By David Wong, TE Sloth October 29, 2007 3,534,307 views
article image
#4.
Neurotoxins

As seen in ...
The movie The Serpent and the Rainbow, the upcoming Resident Evil 5 video game.

What are they?
There are certain kinds of poisons that slow your bodily functions to the point that you'll be considered dead, even to a doctor (okay, maybe not to a good doctor). The poison from fugu (Japanese blowfish) can do this.

The victims can then be brought back under the effects of a drug like datura stramonium (or other chemicals called alkaloids) that leave them in a trance-like state with no memory, but still able to perform simple tasks like eating, sleeping, moaning and shambling around with their arms outstretched.

How it can result in zombies:
"Can?" How about "does."

This stuff has happened in Haiti; that's where the word "zombie" comes from. There are books about it, the most famous ones by Dr. Wade Davis (Passage of Darkness and The Serpent and the Rainbow). Yes, the movie The Serpent and the Rainbow was based on this guy's actual science stuff. How much of it was fact? Well, there was that one scene where they strapped the guy naked to a chair and drove a huge spike through his balls. We're hoping that part wasn't true.

What is definitely true is the story of Clairvius Narcisse. He was a Haitian guy who was declared dead by two doctors and buried in 1962. They found him wandering around the village 18 years later. It turned out the local voodoo priests had been using naturally occurring chemicals to basically zombify people and putting them to work on the sugar plantations (no, really).

So, the next time you're pouring a little packet of sugar into your coffee, remember that it may have been handled by a zombie at some point.

Chances this could cause a zombie apocalypse:
On the one hand, it's already fucking happened! So that earns it some street cred right off the bat. But, even if some evil genius intentionally distributed alkaloid toxins to a population to turn them into a shambling, mindless horde, there is no way to make these zombies aggressive or cannabalistic.

Yet.

ive always wondered why in zombie movies the people just dont hid behind a door you have to pull to open. no zomvie is ever going to stop and pull open a door.

7/1/2009 9:48:57 PM
DEspot

Man, Cracked you let me down. I thought you would have atleast one probable scenario. but instead you cited a fiction science page.

6/26/2009 9:54:15 PM
Millroots

Zombies are overrated.

6/23/2009 8:16:42 PM
brutaltitfight

i cant wait till the DAY WHEN IM IN THE ARMY AND I GO ON A MISSION AND A GET A BRIFE THAT SAYS KILL THOSE MOTHER FU=CKING ZOMBIES OH THAT WILL BE THE DAY

6/20/2009 3:03:00 PM
chriz

WAIT zombies kill humans so what will the zombies do when we all die out mabe they will get board to death that will show them

6/20/2009 2:59:53 PM
chriz

the safeiest place to go incanse of a zombie attack is the neariest millatry base the goverment will proably be useing hellacopters to transport people howeverthe the govermentis p***y if you are left alone baracade your house fine guns oce u have guns find food and when ever there are no zombies serch for sevivers

3 best wepones to use on a zombie
1 shot gun/rifel(best afective in the head)
2 MG16(rapid fire can will mutiple zombies)
3 flamethrower(dude its just plian awsome)

6/20/2009 2:48:21 PM
chriz

Maybe I hate comedy websites or people lightly enjoying a comedy website without being interrupted by persnickety assholes nitpicking facts on a piece about zombies, or maybe I'm just a miserable human being, but I think the Mad Cow/Creutzfeldt–Jakob part is a little over-kill.

Statistics from the CDC say that only 1 in one million people are infected each year with Creutzfeldt–Jakob's disease. Not really that much of a risk in my opinion.

However, from 1996 to 2004 only 139 people in the world have died from an odd VARIATION of Creutzfeldt–Jakob's disease that is called Mad Cow when it infects cows.

As far as we know the disease does not cross species barriers and cows cannot even catch it from other cows.

And there is no evidence that humans can get it from eating Mad Cow beef.

{I'm skeptical of your reference as it comes from an environmental group, the type of people who instigate environmental hysteria about things like global warming and nuclear energy, not exactly a group that works with infectious diseases, or science for that matter.}

6/19/2009 12:44:07 PM
Mahawk

The Happening blew dick. Biggest waste of $9 I ever spent at a theater.

6/13/2009 11:21:31 PM
Dj_Wafflz

oh.ps the safest place to be is a graveyard i know zombies can pop out but if your religest or looking to go on a killing spree go there but people always say its actuly good to stay in a graveyard becuase they are good spirits yah tell me that when your getting your head ripped off and how would a zombie react like what would it do would it eat other zombies or attack people or would it not attack and how would it live if it doesnt have a brain or heart an if the zombies organs dont work how does it live? so people who are scared there is only a 1/4 chance so dont be that worried thats only 25% so that means 75% it wont and i believe its possible and i would be some one who would get a sniper rifle lock my doors go to my room get out my window wre there is a cool balcony on the fron tof the house and when i run out of bullets i would go to my naibors becuase they have a big fence(sorry about spelling im only 13 but im smart and im athiest XD)

6/12/2009 12:28:42 PM
pinkhaloassasin

aaahhhh look the usa is already turning stupide(jk) when the zombie comes the goverment wont give a crap they will let us become zombies and use us ust for a cure just so they can live longer XD

6/12/2009 12:10:29 PM
pinkhaloassasin

OMG! so cant wait for this! hehehe.

6/12/2009 9:04:35 AM
Devilinaround

I read the full article linked and this case sounds more like the movie "The Happening"..rather than a zombie apocalypse. For those who haven't seen the movie its about an unknown force causing people to become thoughtless and kill themselves. In the case of toxoplasma whatcha call it' it causes rats to want to be consumed by their prey and ultimately die in order for the virus to thrive...this may be the lack of sleep talking...but what if those infected (if the parasite somehow evolves to affect humans in such a way) start feeding ourselves to a pack of lions? ..(also in the movie)..or find some other way to be eaten by animals to spread this thing...this probably sounds just as crazy as most of these comments but I couldn't help but notice the similarities....

6/11/2009 10:41:19 PM
shanfran

Insanely anti-climactic. I was really enjoying this up until it pretty much became a conspiracy website talking about how RFID chips are mind control.

6/7/2009 3:25:44 AM
b5200

Dang i believe this, it sucks for the people who are about 13 or born right now. i mean, if it happens in the next 20-40 years or so.

6/7/2009 12:57:24 AM
Arc

@missykitty8

Exactly. Watch the movie "Quarantine."

Eff that.

6/2/2009 2:24:37 PM
zachwoomer

Don't use the word scientific. This is pseudo-science at best.

5/30/2009 10:25:32 PM
findingemo

It's a silicon chip. Not a silicone chip. Silicone is used for implants.

5/30/2009 9:52:51 AM
microdude

I want the zombies to happen.

5/28/2009 2:19:41 PM
Canadia

what about rabies? the thinning ozone layer means viruses are exposed to more radiation.. causing them to mutate.
rabies can cause you to become extremely aggressive. you don't remember who you are, or anyone else. all you know is the pain & the rage. you froth at the mouth (spread through saliva) & it is spread through biting.
someone w/ rabies may not be undead, but they sure act like the undead. stumbling around, brainless, attacking & spreading disease through bites.
if the rabies virus mutates, our vaccine won't work anymore.. & we're FUCKED.

5/28/2009 7:55:28 AM
missykitty8

i dont think so zombies is just a folk tale if there is have zombies there is now extinction!!!!!!!!!!

5/28/2009 4:20:48 AM
gadwin251