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View Full Version : If Zombies become real, we're fucked.

Janos
08-18-2009, 06:00 PM
It appears George Romero was right: Canadian mathematicians have concluded that a zombie outbreak could lead to the destruction of civilization in short order unless dealt with aggressively at the outset, according to a report on the BBC.

The scientific paper is published in a book, Infectious Diseases Modelling Research Progress, the BBC reports:

They say only frequent counter-attacks with increasing force would eradicate the fictional creatures. ...
In some respects, a zombie "plague" resembles a lethal rapidly spreading infection. The researchers say the exercise could help scientists model the spread of unfamiliar diseases through human populations. ...

In their study, the researchers from the University of Ottawa and Carleton University (also in Ottawa) posed a question: If there was to be a battle between zombies and the living, who would win?

Professor Robert Smith? (the question mark is part of his surname and not a typographical mistake) and colleagues wrote: "We model a zombie attack using biological assumptions based on popular zombie movies.

"We introduce a basic model for zombie infection and illustrate the outcome with numerical solutions."

The most interesting part of this study, of course, is why would a professor spell his name with a question mark? (To distinguish him from The Cure's lead singer, we're told. Because I'm sure people mix them up all the time.)

Oh, and fans of 28 Days Later? The mathematical study is based on Romero's classic slow-moving zombies to give humankind a fighting chance.

God help us if zombies are able to run.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8206280.stm

Text stolen from SciFi Wire, full article linked.
shiningbrow
08-18-2009, 08:51 PM
Doesn't this problem share a parallel with vampyrism? One feeds on blood, the other brains. In either case, it wipes out the non-zombie/vampire population and then starves to death. The mathematical models should be the same.

On the plus side, it's one answer to the health care crisis. :)
Janos
08-18-2009, 10:15 PM
In either case, it wipes out the non-zombie/vampire population and then starves to death. The mathematical models should be the same.

If we're talking cliche Vampires though, they should be intelligent enough to forestall that.

There is a movie coming up about that very subject that the name escapes me on about a vampire detective in a world they rule trying to find a cure to their condition as the last human left dies.
Squash Cop
08-18-2009, 10:17 PM
Smith??

I have never been more tempted to change my name.
Schizm
08-19-2009, 08:33 PM
If we're talking cliche Vampires though, they should be intelligent enough to forestall that.

There is a movie coming up about that very subject that the name escapes me on about a vampire detective in a world they rule trying to find a cure to their condition as the last human left dies.

daybreakers (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0433362/)?
Janos
08-19-2009, 11:01 PM
daybreakers (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0433362/)?

Yup that's the one. Thanks!
shiningbrow
08-20-2009, 01:35 AM
There used to be a program that came on at about midnight on Sunday nights--the veritable horse latitudes of tv programming--called "Forever Knight." It was a Canadian program about a vampire cop. Its theme was "14th c. vampire, 20th century cop!" And the vampire was this guy who didn't bite people, but who had a friend in the lab who had synthesized some kind of human blood that she fed him. He was a great crime fighter, who solved many serious criminal complaints, while managing not to feed on people, thanks to his friend in forensics.

This technique would certainly solve the problem.
Northcott
08-20-2009, 12:27 PM
Nick Knight! :D Man... I miss that show. It was a really daring little attempt, and one of the first solid efforts by a Canadian production team to step outside of 'safe' choices, like culturally-laden programming, unglamorous slice-of-life shows, or period pieces. It was cheezy as Hell, but I loved it.
Varaj
08-20-2009, 12:28 PM
Nick Knight! :D Man... I miss that show. It was a really daring little attempt, and one of the first solid efforts by a Canadian production team to step outside of 'safe' choices, like culturally-laden programming, unglamorous slice-of-life shows, or period pieces. It was cheezy as Hell, but I loved it.

I own them on DVD. I love them.
Janos
08-20-2009, 01:31 PM
There used to be a program that came on at about midnight on Sunday nights--the veritable horse latitudes of tv programming--called "Forever Knight."

Paging Brannich Blacksmoke!
shiningbrow
08-20-2009, 02:32 PM
I agree the show was cheesy and addictive. Don't know why I liked it so much, but I was a regular viewer. If I remember correctly, the protagonist had to limit his investigative work to nighttime, because of the regular daylight issues. I should see if I can find it somewhere.
Northcott
08-28-2009, 03:57 AM
Yessss! In the era of Anne Rice vampires (which has only inspired greater silliness in the ensuing years, such as Twilight), it was nice to see 'traditional' vampires running about. They couldn't bear the sun, and would go up in flames at it's touch. So Nick faked a medical condition that required the night shift.
Ancalagon
08-28-2009, 07:00 AM
isn't this science?

http://www.kaytastrophe.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7084

;)