AsburySkinsFan Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/03/pictures/110303-zombie-ants-fungus-new-species-fungi-bugs-science-brazil/#/zombie-fungus-infects-insects-mind-control-ant-infected_32848_600x450.jpg A stalk of the newfound fungus species Ophiocordyceps camponoti-balzani, grows out of a "zombie" ant's head in a Brazilian rain forest. Originally thought to be a single species, called Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, the fungus is actually four distinct species—all of which can "mind control" ants—scientists announced Wednesday. The fungus species can infect an ant, take over its brain, and then kill the insect once it moves to a location ideal for the fungi to grow and spread their spores. (Related pictures: ""Zombie" Ants Controlled, Decapitated by Flies.") All four known fungi species live in Brazil's Atlantic rain forest, which is rapidly changing due to climate change and deforestation, said study leader David Hughes, an entomologist at Penn State University. Hughes and colleagues made the discovery after noticing a wide diversity of fungal growths emerging from ant victims, according to the March 2 study in the journal PLoS ONE. "It is tempting to speculate that each species of fungus has its own ant species that it is best adapted to attack," Hughes said. "This potentially means thousands of zombie fungi in tropical forests across the globe await discovery," he said. "We need to ramp up sampling—especially given the perilous state of the environment." —Matt Kaplan Published March 3, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PokerPacker Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 stock up on guns, ammo, and melee weapons. Zombie Apocalypse is now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AsburySkinsFan Posted March 6, 2011 Author Share Posted March 6, 2011 stock up on guns, ammo, and melee weapons. Zombie Apocalypse is now. Next month's National Geo is going to feature a story about how the fungus attacked the brains of the researchers and then developed a taste for brains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCchillin89 Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 I got a fake owl on a metal pike designed to scare off birds. Really though, this is frightening Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FanboyOf91 Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 Vase and a glass picture frame. ****. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conn Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 ^^I've got a TV. Not the most effective weapon... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PokerPacker Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 I got a lavalamp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 I have...a book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AsburySkinsFan Posted March 6, 2011 Author Share Posted March 6, 2011 I got a stack of CD's.....hmmmm ninja stars yeah baby! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Da'uud Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 I gotta bottle of 1800 !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoGood28 Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 If anyone watched the rainforest Planet Earth episode they already know all about this and it is also probably already being researched. That series is several years old now. And it doesn't affect just ants. Moths, stick bugs, and other insects all became derranged and literally started walking like a zombie. The ant climbed a plant stalk then died after it reached a certain height. The variety of growths sprouting from the insects heads and bodies was quite disturbingly beautiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arsenic Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 Recording Device.. awww shiot.. Prepare to die, Fungi scum! <-- Killing stuff, rules. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spartacus87 Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 Vase and a glass picture frame.****. ^^I've got a TV. Not the most effective weapon... I got a lavalamp. I have...a book. I got a stack of CD's.....hmmmm ninja stars yeah baby! I gotta bottle of 1800 !! You guys all have it better than me. I got an empty Gatorade bottle. So screwed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjah Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 A squeeze bottle of Aveeno ® Baby ® Eczema Therapy Skin Protectant. My toddler's dry skin be damned -- zombies, prepare to die of massive colloidal oatmeal poisoning! And with this many federally registered trademarks, your hopes for finding a freely available antidote are nil. Suckers. Zombie moisturegeddon! Heeeee-yaaaarrrrrggghhh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoolUsernameHere Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 I saw the video of this yesterday. That stuff is insane! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedskinFeathers Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 I gotta bottle of 1800 !! I am jealous. I have a remote and bag of Babybel cheese. I'm screwed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conn Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 A squeeze bottle of Aveeno ® Baby ® Eczema Therapy Skin Protectant.My toddler's dry skin be damned Yeah......I'm sure that's exactly why you've got a bottle of lotion right next to your computer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
China Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 I, for one, welcome our new zombie ant overlords. XuKjBIBBAL8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Do Itch Big Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 Damn nature you scary!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRAVEONTHEWARPATH93 Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 thank God i played Dead Rising I can turn anything into a zombie murdering device Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjah Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 Yeah......I'm sure that's exactly why you've got a bottle of lotion right next to your computer I was wondering how long it would take for someone to say that! If I was using this stuff for that stuff, instead of using it to treat my daughter's skin condition, I suspect a particularly well-aimed lightning bolt would render both me and the computer molten. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinsKin26 Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 I have two pomeranians and a hot blonde girl to my left. Can you say sacrifices...awesome... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueinBuf Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 If anyone watched the rainforest Planet Earth episode they already know all about this and it is also probably already being researched. That series is several years old now. And it doesn't affect just ants. Moths, stick bugs, and other insects all became derranged and literally started walking like a zombie. The ant climbed a plant stalk then died after it reached a certain height. The variety of growths sprouting from the insects heads and bodies was quite disturbingly beautiful. Exactly what I thought about when I saw the thread title. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reic Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 I have a pillow....**** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madison Redskin Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 I got a fake owl on a metal pike designed to scare off birds.Really though, this is frightening I've got a pillow. Suffice it to say, I'm ****ed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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