Ghosts, Vampires and Zombies: What Science Says

Humans have had a thirst for the unknown almost ever since they ceased to be just another animal waiting to eat, sleep and reproduce. And that which has no logical explanation attracts us even more than that which is obvious, and mystery as such lies at the basis of the most distant beliefs of mankind.

Neuroscientists recently discovered that the brain releases dopamine, a chemical associated with pleasure, when a person is exposed to terrifying experiences. Perhaps this is what explains the special fascination ghosts, vampires and zombies. But does science say anything more about these phenomena? Are they simply creations of our brains? Do they respond to urban myths?

Or are they actually real? We discovered!

Are ghosts real?

If you’re one of those who believes in ghosts, you’re not alone: ​​4 in 10 Americans say they exist, and 2 in 10 even say they’ve had contact with one. But do paranormal phenomena really exist or can science explain these events? Science seems to be against this possibility.

Infrasound (less than 20 Hertz), such as that produced by earthquakes, volcanic activity, wind turbines or loudspeakers, can trick the brain into causing feelings such as fear or fear. Additionally, inhaling toxic mold (common in poorly maintained areas where its presence is commonly felt) or carbon monoxide can cause hallucinations, dementia, or irrational fears.

Origin of the Vampires

Vampires have been a part of human folklore for thousands of years, with concepts crossing cultural boundaries into strange creatures sucking the blood of their victims, such as the Chinese. Jiangshi or Geruki Tibetans.

The belief arose when communities could not explain their misfortunes and blamed the recently dead who had returned from the underworld. When the tomb was opened, local residents confused normal processes of post-mortem decomposition with supernatural phenomena, such as the degree of preservation, which varies depending on the climate or type of grave; or blood from the mouth caused by distention of the intestines after death.

The most famous vampire in history is Count Dracula, whom the Irish writer Bram Stoker described in his 1897 book. Stoker took some traits from Prince Vlad the Impaler, Vlad Dracula or Vlad the Impaler, considered one of the most important rulers of the Principality of Wallachia and the national hero of Romania, the distant from the myth of the sadistic bloodsucker.

What about modern vampires? Although many self-identified vampires today participate in gothic-inspired subcultures, they are unlikely to drink blood due to the toxicity of the liquid. Because blood contains large amounts of iron, consuming it can cause hemochromatosis, a disease that can lead to life-threatening conditions (liver disease, heart problems and diabetes).

Are zombies possible?

Hordes of brain-eating undead are often shown on television, but are zombies possible? In the animal kingdom, many cases of parasites have been recorded that can change the behavior of their hosts.

For example, the Ophiocordyceps fungus releases spores that infect the carpenter ant’s body, controlling its locomotor activity and ultimately killing it. The parasitic fungus grows from the host’s head, infecting other healthy ants.

Or with wasps euderus set And bassettia pallida, whose behavior was described only in 2017. Larvae Basettia They grow in a “crypt” from which they are released by biting it off when they are ripe. However, the Euderus set lays eggs in the same crypt and transmits the parasite. He manipulates a young bassetia to make a hole from which only its head can be removed. While trapped, the parasitic wasp feeds from the inside, and when it completes development, it exits through a hole in the head.

And could the same thing happen to people? An estimated 40 million Americans have been infected with the single-celled parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which has caused rats to lose their fear of cats. But it took a big evolutionary leap for human behavior to change. In addition, corpses decompose quickly, incapacitating them quickly as their flesh and muscles decompose within days or weeks.