Zombie ants now. WE'RE NEXT!

[workinwifdakids]

Scientists have identified a fungus that infects the brains of ants, causing them to wander about aimlessly, occasionally stinging themselves. When the infection reaches its height, it tells the ant to crawl up to a branch a precise distance from the ground at exactly noon and bite down, essentially holding the now-dead ant in place while the fungus grows from its brain into the air. When the fungus is at a specific height above the ant, it sprays itself onto the ground below in an effort to infect more ants.

If the other ants find an infected ant, they will carry it off and leave it as far from the colony as possible.

Scientists have discovered four new species of fungi in Brazilian rainforests that infect carpenter ants and take over their brains. About a week after being exposed to spores from the fungi, ants enter a zombie-like state. The fungus then grows out of the ant’s head and releases spores, but not until the ant climbs to a favorable position in the rainforest canopy so the spores have a better chance of infecting other ants.

Scientists have discovered species of fungi that infect ants, taking control of their muscles, forcing them to wander the jungle floor in search of a perfect place for the fungus to propagate. That perfect place is the underside of certain leaves. When the fungus finds a leaf, it forces the ant to bite down on the leaf's main vein, locking it into position. Researchers found that this final bite takes place around noon, meaning the fungal parasite is synchronized with the sun.

Here is a 3min video from BBC.

If this can affect ants, and is affecting many other species, then there's no reason it can't affect us. From a zompocalypse perspective, it's pretty amazing stuff to think about.

[JustinR]

If I could figure out how to weaponize the spores and sell it as a fire ant killer here in Texas, I'd be a billionaire, at least until people realized I had just started the zombie apocalypse on accident.

[Combat Controller]

IIRC there is something recent about a spore that kills fire ants for here in Texas I saw recently....

Could be the same thing.

[Jericho941]

At this point, the closest thing you're about to get are those stupid waterborne brain amoebas that unstoppably devour your brain if you get some water up your nose.

[Aglifter]

More frightening is the disease which takes over the brains of mice, and makes them seek out cats

[Evyl Robot]

More frightening is the disease which takes over the brains of mice, and makes them seek out cats

Toxoplasmosis? I read somewhere that it makes women more promiscuous.

[Aglifter]

Can't remember, I was out of biochem by the time it started really being discussed, but I do know there is considerable concern, given how close rodent and human systems are.

My guess is, now that they know to look for it, they'll find some diseases w. a similar effect on humans... Maybe - humans have some unique aspects to them, especially in disease resistance, but an STD which encourages promiscuity would be logical.

(Pretty much, if its logical, there's a decent chance it exists in the biochem world - kinda like the guy who saw a unusually shaped flower, and figured there must be an insect which could eat the nectar...)