Creepy, Kooky Science

Zombies have invaded mainstream society in weekly television shows, blockbuster movies, comic books, and novels. While there is no scientific proof that the dead can indeed come back to life, there are many terrifying and fascinating examples of real-life zombies in the world around us. Through enthralling text and vivid photographs, students will learn how rabies, which causes the infected to hobble, spasm, drool, and become aggressive and violent, influenced the modern depictions of the zombie. They will also read about a wasp that turns large cockroaches into mindless slaves, even walking them around like dogs, and other parasites, diseases, and substances that cause zombie-like characteristics in the afflicted.