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Are Zombies Real? Science vs The Undead Myth · The Infographics Show Podcast

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  Speaker 1: Hey everyone, and welcome back to the infographics. You know,
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  Speaker 1: today we're going to be looking at a topic that's
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  Speaker 1: both terrifying and strangely fascinating. Zombies. Could these creatures of
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  Speaker 1: the night, with their insatiable hunger for brains and decaying flesh,
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  Speaker 1: actually exist?
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  Speaker 2: Well, you know, it's a question that has captivated us
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  Speaker 2: for decades. From classic films like Night of the Living Dead,
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  Speaker 2: Oh for sure, to modern hits like The Walking Dead,
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  Speaker 2: zombies tap into a primal fear of disease, societal collapse, right,
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  Speaker 2: world gone mad? But are they scientifically plausible?
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  Speaker 1: That's what we're here to find out. So we're going
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  Speaker 1: to be dissecting the zombie myth separated the Hollywood horror
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  Speaker 1: from the scientific reality. So buckle up, grab your thinking caps,
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  Speaker 1: and maybe keep a night light one, because things are
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  Speaker 1: about to get a little undead.
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  Speaker 2: The first thing that jumps out, even to a casual observer,
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  Speaker 2: is the inherent paradox of the zombie. How can something
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  Speaker 2: be dead and yet mobile and kying, yet strong right mindless,
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  Speaker 2: yet driven by this insatiable hunger. These contradictions immediately raise
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  Speaker 2: red flags from a biological perspective.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, it's like trying to fit square pegs in the
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  Speaker 1: round holes, right, I mean, picture this a horde of zombies, yeah,
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  Speaker 1: trying to chase down their prey. Even if we ignore
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  Speaker 1: the whole debit moving issue, how are they even managing
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  Speaker 1: to shamble right, let alone splint with deteriorating muscles, tendons,
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  Speaker 1: and often missing limbs exactly?
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  Speaker 2: Movement requires a complex interplay of systems. Our muscles and
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  Speaker 2: tendons need to be in good working order, but more importantly,
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  Speaker 2: the central nervous system, brain and spinal cord play a
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  Speaker 2: critical role in coordinating those movements.
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  Speaker 1: So if a zombie's brain is essentially well mush, how
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  Speaker 1: is it sending signals to the body?
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  Speaker 2: That's the million dollar question? Isn't it a severely damaged brain,
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  Speaker 2: as depicted in most zombie lord simply can't control complex
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  Speaker 2: actions like running or even grabbing. Just not biologically possible.
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  Speaker 1: Okay, But let's say for argument's sake, a zombie somehow
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  Speaker 1: bypasses the whole brain function issue. They're still walking around
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  Speaker 1: with rotting flesh, exposed bones, and who knows what else
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  Speaker 1: lurking beneath those tattered clothes. Yeah, wouldn't they just fall
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  Speaker 1: apart under their own decay.
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  Speaker 2: Absolutely, imagine a zombie horde shuffling through a human Atlanta
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  Speaker 2: summer or facing a bone chilling blizzard in North Dakota.
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  Speaker 2: The reality is Mother Nature wouldn't be kind to a
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  Speaker 2: rotting corpse. Heat and humidity would accelerate decompositions, turning those
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  Speaker 2: zombies into a feast for bacteria and insects.
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  Speaker 1: Oh that's just gross.
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  Speaker 2: And an extreme cold. Those brittle bones would shatter with
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  Speaker 2: the slightest misstep.
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  Speaker 1: Ouch. Yeah, it's like they're fighting a losing battle from
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  Speaker 1: the get go. The elements alone would make their existence
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  Speaker 1: pretty miserable, not to mention impossible.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, speaking of losing battles, Yeah, let's not forget about
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  Speaker 2: the immune system, or rather the complete lack thereof. Imagine
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  Speaker 2: your body without its natural defenses against bacteria, viruses, and
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  Speaker 2: all these microscopic nasties that are just waiting to attack. Now,
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  Speaker 2: picture that same body decaying with open wounds and exposed flesh.
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  Speaker 1: It's like a walking peatrie dish exactly. They'd be vulnerable
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  Speaker 1: to every infection imaginable.
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  Speaker 2: Our immune system is a complex and powerful network of
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  Speaker 2: cells and processes that keeps us healthy without it. We
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  Speaker 2: wouldn't last long, especially not in the condition. And most
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  Speaker 2: zombies are depicted in It's ironic, isn't it. They crave brains,
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  Speaker 2: but they lack the biological machinery to even process that
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  Speaker 2: food into energy.
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  Speaker 1: Man, it's like a car without an engine. You can
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  Speaker 1: have all the fuel in the world, but without a
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  Speaker 1: way to converted into power, you're not going anywhere. Speaking
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  Speaker 1: of cars, imagine this. You see a horde of zombies
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  Speaker 1: stumbling through a field. Okay, don't you think a pack
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  Speaker 1: of hungry wolves or even a few stray dogs, Yeah,
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  Speaker 1: would see that as an all you can.
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  Speaker 2: Eat buffet, absolutely, and a disrupted ecosystem where resources are scarce,
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  Speaker 2: predators wouldn't hesitate to capitalize on such an easy meal.
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  Speaker 2: Scavengers play a vital role in nature's cleanup crew, oh
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  Speaker 2: for sure, and even domesticated animals driven by hunger might
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  Speaker 2: see those zombies as prime targets.
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  Speaker 1: Right.
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  Speaker 2: Remember, folks, if you like what you're hearing so far,
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  Speaker 2: make sure to follow the infographics and give us a
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  Speaker 2: five star rating. We really appreciate your support.
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  Speaker 1: Okay, one last thought before we move on to our
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  Speaker 1: next zombie myth busting segment, imagine trying to navigate the
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  Speaker 1: world with rotting eyes, damaged ear drums, and a sense
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  Speaker 1: of smell, completely overwhelmed by well yourself. Oh yeah, not
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  Speaker 1: exactly the ideal hunter, right.
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  Speaker 2: Our senses are crucial for survival. They provide us with
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  Speaker 2: information about our surroundings, helping us to hunt, navigate, and
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  Speaker 2: avoid danger. But with decaying senses, as most zombies would experience,
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  Speaker 2: even basic tasks like finding food or identifying threats would
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  Speaker 2: become incredibly challenging.
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  Speaker 1: It's like they're stumbling around at a perpetual fog, cut
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  Speaker 1: off from the world around them, and yet there's supposed
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  Speaker 1: to be these relentless hunters driven by an insatiable hunger
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  Speaker 1: for brains.
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  Speaker 2: That's the paradox, isn't it. The very nature of their
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  Speaker 2: existence makes it highly improbable, if not impossible, for them
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  Speaker 2: to function as the relentless predators they're often portrayed as. Right,
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  Speaker 2: But there's more to unravel in this zombie mystery. Okay,
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  Speaker 2: we'll continue our deep dive after no break. We're just
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  Speaker 2: going to keep going. Okay, don't go anywhere, all right,
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  Speaker 2: things are about to get even more interesting.
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  Speaker 1: Let's do it, all right, So we're back and ready
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  Speaker 1: to continue our zombie autopsy, so to speak. Okay, we've
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  Speaker 1: already uncovered some major flaws the whole zombie myth from
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  Speaker 1: their impossible biomechanics to not exist in immune systems. But
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  Speaker 1: there's one question that's been bugging me. Let's talk about
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  Speaker 1: the zombie bite, iconic moment when a zombie thinks its
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  Speaker 1: teeth into an unsuspecting victim, keeping them into one of
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  Speaker 1: the un dead. But here's the thing. How much of
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  Speaker 1: a threat is a zombie bite really when those teeth
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  Speaker 1: are likely to be well, not in the best shape.
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  Speaker 2: Ah. Yes, the classic zombie bite the source of so
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  Speaker 2: much fear and fascination. But you raise an excellent point.
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  Speaker 2: Let's think about it. These zombies are walking around with
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  Speaker 2: decaying gums, weakened enamel, and probably a few missing teeth
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  Speaker 2: for good measure. Yeah, they're not exactly poster children for
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  Speaker 2: dental hyghien exactly.
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  Speaker 1: Even with the strongest enamel, neglect takes its toll. Imagine
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  Speaker 1: trying to deliver a bone crushing bite, rotting gums and
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  Speaker 1: loose teeth. It just doesn't seem very effective, does it.
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  Speaker 2: It's more likely to result in a gummy nibble than
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  Speaker 2: a lethal bite. Our teeth are surprisingly durable. Yeah, but
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  Speaker 2: they still require care. Without regular brushing, flashing, and dental checkups.
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  Speaker 2: To face sets in, the enamel weakens, the gums recede,
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  Speaker 2: and eventually those teeth become liabilities rather than weapons.
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  Speaker 1: So the whole one bite in your doomed scenario seems
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  Speaker 1: a bit overblown, would you say?
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  Speaker 2: Indeed, the reality is that a zombie bite, while potentially
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  Speaker 2: nasty and prone to infection, is unlikely to be the
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  Speaker 2: instantaneous transformative event often depicted in fiction. It's more likely
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  Speaker 2: to result in a painful injury that, without proper medical attention,
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  Speaker 2: could lead to serious complications, but not necessarily a full
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  Speaker 2: blown zombie conversion.
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  Speaker 1: Okay, let's move on to another aspect of zombie biology
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  Speaker 1: that's always bothered me, the digestive system, or lack thereof.
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  Speaker 1: They spend all their time chasing after brains. Yeah, but
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  Speaker 1: where does all that matter actually go? Do they even
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  Speaker 1: have a functioning digestive system?
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  Speaker 2: That's a question that zombie movies rarely address. The human
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  Speaker 2: digestive system is a marvel of engineering, breaking down food,
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  Speaker 2: extracting nutrients, and eliminating waste.
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  Speaker 1: But zombies, with their decaying organs and compromise bodily functions,
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  Speaker 1: are unlikely to have that same digestive efficiency. So what
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  Speaker 1: happens to all those undigestic brains. It's that a pleasant
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  Speaker 1: thought picture.
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  Speaker 2: This undigested food starts to rot inside the zombie's stomach,
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  Speaker 2: Gases build up, pressure increases, and well, let's just say
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  Speaker 2: the results wouldn't be pretty Okay, we.
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  Speaker 1: Don't have to go into detail. It wouldn't exactly be
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  Speaker 1: conducid to a long and thriving, undead.
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  Speaker 2: Existence, not at all.
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  Speaker 1: It's amazing how quickly the zombie myth unravels. Yeah, when
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  Speaker 1: you apply a little bit of scientific scrutint, it highlights.
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  Speaker 2: The interconnectedness of our biological systems. Everything works together in
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  Speaker 2: a delicate balance to keep us alive and functioning. Disrupt
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  Speaker 2: one system and the whole thing starts to unravel.
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  Speaker 1: It's almost comical when you think about it. These fearsome
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  Speaker 1: creatures of the night, huh, reduced to stumbling, decating messes
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  Speaker 1: thanks to basic biology. Yeah, but you know, there's still
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  Speaker 1: something strangely compelling about the zombie myth. Why do you
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  Speaker 1: think we're so fascinated by these creatures, Yeah, even when
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  Speaker 1: we know they're scientifically impossible.
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  Speaker 2: I think it's more than just gore and the scares.
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  Speaker 2: Zombies tap into something deeper, something primal, like what Perhaps
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  Speaker 2: it's the fear of losing control, of succumbing to something
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  Speaker 2: beyond our comprehension.
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  Speaker 1: Or maybe it's a reflection of our own anxieties about disease,
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  Speaker 1: societal collapse, those what if scenarios that work in the
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  Speaker 1: back of our minds.
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  Speaker 2: Exactly. The zombie apocalypse, while fictional, serves as a stark
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  Speaker 2: reminder of what of the fragility of civilization, of the
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  Speaker 2: importance of empathy, passion, and connection.
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  Speaker 1: It forces us to confront some uncomfortable truths about ourselves. Yeah,
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  Speaker 1: but our capacity for both good and evil exactly.
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  Speaker 2: The zombie apocalypse becomes a crucible testing our limits, pushing
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  Speaker 2: us to the edge of what we believe is possible.
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  Speaker 2: It's a thought experiment with profound implications.
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  Speaker 1: Like holding up a distorted mirror to our own society right,
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  Speaker 1: forcing us to examine the cracks in our systems, the
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  Speaker 1: flaws in our thinking, and maybe just baby, it helps
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  Speaker 1: us to appreciate the things we often take for granted. Connection, community,
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  Speaker 1: and the very essence of what it means to be human.
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  Speaker 2: H that's a good point.
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  Speaker 1: But let's not get too existential just yet. We have
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  Speaker 1: one more segment to go. We'll wrap up our zombie
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  Speaker 1: deep dive and explore what we can learn from these fascinating,
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  Speaker 1: albeit fictional creatures. Stick around. Okay, so we're back for
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  Speaker 1: the final leg of our zombie deep dive. We've dissected
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  Speaker 1: the myth, exposed the biological impossibilities, and even delved into
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  Speaker 1: the psychological and social implications of a world overrun by
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  Speaker 1: the undead. But before we let you go, let's take
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  Speaker 1: a step back and consider what we can learn from
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  Speaker 1: these fascinating, albeit fictional creatures.
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  Speaker 2: I think one of the most valuable takeaways from the
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  Speaker 2: zombie myth is its exploration of human resilience. Even in
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  Speaker 2: the face of unimaginable chaos and loss, there's always a
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  Speaker 2: spark of hope, right, a determination to survive, to rebuild,
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  Speaker 2: to find meaning in the midst of madness.
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  Speaker 1: It's like those post apocalyptic stories where humanity bands together,
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  Speaker 1: forming communities, rediscovering the simple things that truly matter. It's
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  Speaker 1: a testament to our adaptability, our ingenuity, our ability to
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  Speaker 1: find strength in the face.
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  Speaker 2: Of adversity exactly, the zombie apocalypse, in a strange way,
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  Speaker 2: becomes a crucible for human evolution, forcing us to confront
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  Speaker 2: our weaknesses, to innovate, to adapt, to find new ways
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  Speaker 2: to connect and cooperate.
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  Speaker 1: It reminds us that even in the darkest of times,
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  Speaker 1: the human spirit can endure. There's always a glimmer of
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  Speaker 1: home or reason to keep fighting.
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  Speaker 2: And perhaps that's the ultimate message of the zombie myth,
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  Speaker 2: that even in the face of death, even when surrounded
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  Speaker 2: by decay and destruction, there's a part of us that
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  Speaker 2: refuses to give up, a part of us that yearns
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  Speaker 2: for life, for connection, for a future worth fighting for.
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  Speaker 1: It's a powerful message and one that resonates deeply with
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  Speaker 1: our own anxieties and aspirations. So what does this all
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  Speaker 1: mean for us, the listeners living in a world where
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  Speaker 1: zombies are thankfully still confined to the realm of fiction.
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  Speaker 2: Perhaps it's a reminder to cherish the connections we have,
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  Speaker 2: yeah to appreciate the fragility of our world, and to
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  Speaker 2: never underestimate the resilience of the human spirit.
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  Speaker 1: Maybe it's like a nudge to brush up on our
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  Speaker 1: first aid skills, learn how to grow a tomato plant,
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  Speaker 1: or simply have a conversation with loved ones about what
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  Speaker 1: we do in a crisis situation.
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  Speaker 2: Knowledge is power, as they say, right, And while we
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  Speaker 2: might not need to worry about hearts of flesh eating zombies,
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  Speaker 2: there are real world challenges out there that were require
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  Speaker 2: our attention, our ingenuity, and our collective effort to overcome.
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  Speaker 1: So the next time you see a zombie movie or
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  Speaker 1: read a post apocalyptic novel, don't just think about the
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  Speaker 1: scares and the gore. Think about the deeper message about
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  Speaker 1: what it means to be human in a world that's
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  Speaker 1: constantly challenging us, pushing us to our limits.
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  Speaker 2: And remember, even if the world does go sideways, there's
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  Speaker 2: always hope. We humans are a resourceful bunch, right. We
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  Speaker 2: face challenges before, and we'll face them again, and who knows,
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  Speaker 2: maybe those zombies survival guides will come in handy after all.
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  Speaker 1: That's a great note to end on. Thanks for joining
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  Speaker 1: us on this deep dive into the world of zombies.
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  Speaker 1: We hope you learned a thing or two, had a
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  Speaker 1: few laughs, and maybe even gained a new perspective on
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  Speaker 1: the human condition.
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  Speaker 2: And if you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to follow
• 13:42
  Speaker 2: the infographics and give us a five star rating, and
• 13:44
  Speaker 2: we'll be back soon with another fascinating deep dive. Until then,
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  Speaker 2: stay curious, stay connected, and remember the zombies might be fictional,
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  Speaker 2: but the lessons they teach us are very real.
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  Speaker 1: See you next time.