Will there be a zombie apocalypse. Five Science-Based Reasons Why You Should Be Afraid of the Zombie Apocalypse

Find out if there are real zombies. Here you will find the opinions and comments of other users, whether there is a zombie virus, whether there will be an invasion of zombies, whether the existence of zombies is possible.

Answer:

If the zombie virus existed, it would need to be genetically engineered. Otherwise, it simply will not work to make it spread quickly over a large area.

If it were transmitted through a bite, it would be contained in human saliva. Do zombies really exist? Yes, but in most cases they are ordinary people. Including in stories about sorcerers from Africa. They simply use nerve poisons to slow down certain bodily functions and then control them.

However, there is a possibility of the actual creation of the virus in the laboratory. After all, there are many substances that leave some parts of the brain motionless, while others simply block.

In any case, it would take quite a long time for such a virus to spread. A huge outbreak could only be the result of a truly unique virus. However, almost all the possibilities for its creation are currently present. After all, biological weapons have already become a reality of the modern world. And every year it gets cheaper and cheaper. It is likely the emergence of a virus that is really capable of changing people's behavior.

Will there be a zombie invasion?

Voodoo teaching is where any information related to the Living Dead comes from. Anthropologists often cite as an example the state of being put into a coma. After some time, they are returned to the normal functioning of the body, but this does not happen completely. Is there a zombie virus, we have already answered. There are many drugs that, in certain combinations, cause conditions similar to this phenomenon.

But for the onset of the zombie apocalypse, only psychotropic flora and fauna would not be enough. After all, symbolic actions and words have a certain influence on our organisms. You can convince people that they are dying. This is how it actually happens. Will there be a zombie invasion? For now real probability such an outcome is not great. Although she is still there. And the cause may be a protein-like infectious particle or a prion that destroys the brain.

In addition, we must remember that various microorganisms can be carriers of viruses. Some of their varieties cause reactions similar to what we see in zombies. Another issue is that the likelihood of a virus outbreak of the scale usually shown in films remains small. After all, everyone has their own reaction.

Is it possible for zombies to exist?

Almost every person, at least once in his life, thought about the possibility of the existence of supernatural things. And many of them are asking themselves. Is it possible for zombies to exist? Scientists say that there is no hard evidence for such beliefs. In fact, nothing is possible. And there are several very real scenarios.

In addition, science knows many neurotoxins that slow down processes in the body. Sometimes - to such an extent that a person actually becomes dead. With the help of certain drugs, you can return them. But they will be capable of only the most simple actions.

In addition, a number of brain disorders can also cause a similar condition. Diseases of this type are still quite rare, but it is quite possible. As well as the fact that the symptoms for some reason can capture many.

The difference between a human and a rat is not so great, it is not for nothing that new drugs are being tested on rats. Now imagine that a little less than half of humanity (that's how many are infected with toxoplasmosis today) will lose their sense of self-preservation and lose their minds? (We mean even more than now.) This can happen if Toxoplasma decides to evolve.

You can say that she had enough time for this and it is unlikely that it will come to her mind, especially since she doesn’t even have a head! But don't forget the biological weapons programs. Perhaps scientists are developing the newest species of bacteria Toxoplasma gondii right now, and the horrific results of their own work do not bother them at all (because they are most likely already infected with Toxoplasma).

It should be noted here that, technically speaking, people infected with Toxoplasma cannot be considered zombies in the narrow sense, because they were never dead. But it will hardly comfort you if they start knocking on your windows.

neurotoxins

Some poisons can slow down your vital functions so much that doctors declare death. Such neurotoxins include, for example, fugu fish poison (in small quantities it causes paralysis and lethargic coma). Very often, after coming out of a coma, a person loses his memory and is able to perform only the simplest tasks: eat, sleep and wander with his arms outstretched forward.

Actually, this has already happened in Haiti, the birthplace of the very word "zombie". If you don't believe me, ask a man named Clavius ​​Narcissus. In 1980, he unexpectedly appeared in his native village and stated that all this time, that he was considered dead since 1962, he was a zombie. Clavius ​​was recognized by his sister, despite the fact that she had attended his funeral 18 years earlier. The man claimed that he was forced to drink some kind of drink, after which the doctors declared him dead (a medical certificate was even found). But Clavius ​​did not die, but served as a zombie to a certain bokor sorcerer.

However, sorcerers in Haiti used zombies (in them they killed people with the poison of the toad bufo marinus and a plant with speaking name"cucumber zombie") to work on sugar plantations.

The next time you put sugar in your tea, remember that it can be picked up by the industrious hands of zombies.

Fortunately, even if some very malicious sorcerer finds a way to poison most of the planet's population and turn them into weak-willed zombies, he will still not be able to turn them into bloodthirsty cannibals.

Virus

In the textbook movie for all zombie fans, 28 Days Later, the cause of the pandemic was a virus that turned people into mindless killers in a matter of seconds (15, to be boring). In reality, some mental disorders can lead to the same result. They are, of course, harmless. This was before mad cow disease appeared. The disease attacks the animal's brain, causing symptoms similar to rabies. The first cases of the disease were detected in 1968 in England, and then in other European countries.

How can this turn into a zombie apocalypse?

In a person infected with mad cow disease, behavior changes, movements become uncoordinated, sometimes convulsions, hallucinations and delirium occur. To date, there are not so many human cases of mad cow disease that we can seriously talk about an epidemic, but nevertheless this proves that the possibility of a contagious disease that affects the human brain theoretically exists. Such a virus will be transmitted through bites. You can call it "supercow madness".

neurogenesis

What do you know about stem cells? In principle, all you need to know about them is that they are used to regenerate dead cells. Thus, the interest of zombieologists (if such suddenly exist) may be directed to the restoration of the brain in a dead body with the help of stem cells.

How could this lead to a zombie apocalypse?

Brain death is perhaps the most unpleasant event that can happen to a person. Scientists have learned to grow organs, but if the brain has been without oxygen for a short time, then the nerve connections cannot be restored, which means the end of the human personality in the form in which it existed before. But with the achievements of modern science, scientists can reanimate the brain and, as a result, get a living being, devoid of higher nervous activity. Just what we can call a real zombie - the walking dead.

Nanobots

How could this lead to a zombie apocalypse?

Not far off is the creation of nanoviruses that can multiply directly in the brain and restore lost connections between nerve cells and program your thoughts. Scientists have already created a single-cell nanocyborg by inserting a silicon chip into a virus. Such a virus can exist for up to a month after the death of its host. Thus, let's imagine a situation where nanobots are implanted in the human brain, capable of functioning after his death. They can reprogram the neural connections and make the body move until it rots. After that, the nanobots will need to move into a new host, adding a new member to the army of the living dead.

But while scientists have not yet invented all this, you can relax and safely watch your favorite TV shows.

We live in a changing and unpredictable world. Ahead of humanity can expect any turn. Therefore, it is advisable to prepare for the most incredible events. For example, do you know how to survive a zombie apocalypse? Can't imagine what it is? Then you are lucky. Most of the population has already heard about the likely infections that turn ordinary people into a mindless evil spirit that has only one passion - to infect everyone around. Let's try to figure out how to survive in a zombie apocalypse, and whether there is, in principle, such a possibility.

What event are you talking about

Let's say right away that no one has scientifically described the situation when most of the world's population falls under the influence of a now unknown virus. Such horrors are found in films and books. But the zombie apocalypse real life no less likely than nuclear war. It can happen even more suddenly, without preparation. For example, the reason for the transformation of people into zombies will be one of the viruses unknown to science, resting in the thickness of glaciers. And the fact that they are melting at an ever-increasing rate is regularly reported by the media, and experts do not predict a stop to this process. That is, to assume the onset of such a phenomenon as a zombie apocalypse in real life means to prepare for danger. And the one who is warned has more chances to stay in a normal state.

Who is a zombie?

Science cannot answer this question with certainty. Probably, such developments are underway, but hidden, without announcing the results to society. We will use the information that is operated in Hollywood. Zombies are people who have been attacked by viruses, in fact, the dead have come to life. Their main characteristics:

• they feed on human flesh, and cakes do not attract them;
• move slowly but steadily;
• prefer to hunt in large groups;
• die with physical destruction of the brain;
• respond to sounds, light, smell.

What are zombies afraid of?

Let's reason. We proceed from the fact that zombies are bodies that have retained the ability to somehow move in search of food, but have lost all other human qualities, including feelings. Fear is one of them. He, as found out in Ancient Greece, is one of the basic instincts of a living being. That is, there is nothing to find out for a long time - zombies have no emotions, these creatures are incapable of being scared a priori. It is impossible to influence them through threats. Will have to fight back. There is only one way to destroy zombies - by destroying the brain that commands the dead body. That is, you need to think in advance about having a weapon against zombies. There are many options here, especially since humanity has been improving the methods of murder throughout its history. But more on that later.

How to survive the zombie apocalypse?

Despite the lack of reliable information about such a disaster, the instructions have long been written. Enthusiasts successfully spread tips on how to survive the zombie apocalypse. In general, the methods can be divided into several options, which should be considered separately. There are tips for families and single citizens, those whom the disaster found in an apartment, house and at work. It is clear that the rescue algorithm depends on the starting conditions. For example, if a sudden epidemic occurs while you are riding in a crowded subway car or bus, there is simply no escape. People will instantly transmit the virus along the chain with breath or saliva, the first infected will bite the rest. As a result, the gang of the dead is ready. Weapons against zombies in this situation are useless, they will crush them with a mass. In fact, when organizing a rescue, it is important to avoid contact with the infected for as long as possible, to hide, forgetting about courage. Heroism has no place here. Only the owner can kill everyone atomic weapons because more than seven billion people already live on the planet. In the event of an epidemic, most of them will join the hordes of the living dead.

Loner's rescue plan

Let's start looking at recommendations on how to survive in a zombie apocalypse, with non-family citizens, gender does not matter. First of all, it is necessary to barricade windows and doors, that is, to isolate oneself from the outside world. Then start counting and sorting stocks. The real zombie apocalypse in the city is Armageddon, especially at the very beginning. The dead will begin to scour in search of prey. They will organize in packs and attack anything that moves, so it's best to wait it out. It will last, according to calculations, about two weeks. Therefore, it is necessary to immediately stock up on water and food. You should take only products that are not subject to quick spoilage: canned food, biscuits and the like. Do not exchange for cereals, it will be impossible to cook them in the city. Employees of energy supply enterprises will be eaten very quickly.

How to choose clothes

An important point of the plan called: "how to survive in a zombie apocalypse" is the ability to equip yourself appropriately. It should be understood that the world has completely changed, which means that there is no time for fashion. Clothing and footwear should be durable, as comfortable and wearable as possible. Sports style is exactly what you need. Also, prepare a backpack or bag that will fit a knife, food, water, ropes, matches or a lighter, a flashlight, a gas mask, medicines, a change of clothes. You don't have to take a lot. Throw out everything you don't need. Instead of documents, put a lock pick or a screwdriver. In general, you need to focus on the tools, they will be very useful when it comes time to hit the road. And there is no chance to survive in the city.

Plan for family citizens

Let's not repeat ourselves. We describe only the features of behavior. Children need to be instructed and equipped especially carefully. They can become easy prey even for a lone zombie. These creatures smell, therefore, it is necessary to get rid of it. Anything that is at hand will do: cologne, perfume, food flavorings, gasoline or kerosene. Be sure to give your children a good drink of any of the above liquids when you hit the road. Toddlers are best placed in a backpack to make it easier to move. You will have to travel in dashes from one apartment to another, stopping for rest. Each room should be well barricaded, all security measures should be taken.

Where to get food, water and weapons?

One of critical factors Survival in such a situation is the availability of protective equipment. Firearms will have to be looked for in specialized stores or other people's apartments. This is no longer looting, but a necessary measure. Try to act carefully so as not to attract the dead with noise. Don't go hunting alone. It is advisable to immediately gather in groups, so it is easier to defend. You should not go to huge supermarkets immediately after the start of the apocalypse. There are many unfortunate people caught by the epidemic while shopping. They will leave the buildings only after a certain time. Postpone hunting for a week or two. It is better to look for food in small shops closer to the outskirts. But they will quickly become empty, then you will go to hypermarkets. The real zombies are looking for people and animals, so they will leave the city when there are no inhabitants left. Therefore, if it is possible to wait a month in an apartment, then it is worth using it.

Zombie Encounter

No one can completely bypass the dead. Therefore, it is necessary to know in advance how to deal with zombies. The technique is simple: destroy their brains. For the first time, it will be scary, since the creatures do not immediately lose their human appearance. But the choice is small: either join the hordes of the living dead, or kill. To destroy the brain, any weapon from a knife to a rifle will do. Hit straight to the head. Melee weapons are best reinforced with a lever. It is recommended to make a spear by tying good knife to the mop handle. This way you protect yourself from contact with zombie secretions, which can be infectious. It's also good to look for a crossbow. Learn to shoot as the battle progresses. And it is convenient in that the ammunition can be reused. By the way, do not forget to pick up thick rubber gloves. This tool is useful for extracting arrows from zombie heads. Get a heavy ax from the hardware store. It's perfect for dealing with the dead.

Where to go?

So far, nothing is known about how to defeat the zombies. People will have to figure it out as the situation develops. It is important to get out of the cities and save the population. This will require transport, preferably a car. You can load many useful tool which will later save lives. Move to the outlying suburbs. Choose any empty house protected by a moat or a strong fence. All this will have to be strengthened. Use rebar and other iron pins by sticking them into the ground. The most real zombies do not shine with their minds, respectively, they will stumble upon obstacles and delay the entire flock. Make stretch marks from cans and ropes. They will warn you in time of danger. Housing should be selected near a water source, but not far from the city. It will take a long time to grow food, so you will sometimes have to go to the shops for prey.

The best places to organize a base

The time of the apocalypse will equalize everyone, sweep away the conventions between the living. The only goal left is not to replenish the gangs of the dead. Therefore, it will be possible to apply for any unoccupied premises. The best for survival, apparently, will be:

• government suburban bases;
• military units;
• prisons;
• floating, protected objects.

You need to unite with other people and look for such a place. It is much easier to organize defense there. While all the gasoline has not yet been used up, it is recommended to find an excavator and enclose the building with a wide moat. It will be great if you can fill it with water from a river or lake.

distant plans

As a rule, in times of crisis, people are only concerned with survival. Those who succeed will face another problem: what to do in the new, scary world. They will have to clean up the planet and try not to ruin the human race. And this will require a lot of effort and work. Gradually, the supplies will run out, even if there are few survivors. In addition, part of the population will loot, trying to satisfy own desires without caring about the future. We'll have to fight off dead and living bandits. This requires a lot of weapons. Your community will have to constantly replenish the arsenal. In addition, it is necessary to collect more normal people. It's easier to defend together. But it is dangerous to accept everyone you meet into the community. People will have to be tested. A year later, if you manage to save the community, you will have to learn how to conduct subsistence farming, grow food in the garden.

This is how it starts new era humanity, if the apocalypse does happen. And it will be completely different, not the same as now. Most of the technology will be rapidly and irretrievably lost during the lifetime of the first generation of survivors. And how society will develop is unknown. Perhaps the zombies will be defeated, and people will discover other, more advanced abilities in themselves, if they manage to save the population, of course.

The development of new technologies, the availability of information and the rapid reaction of the media to any events in the world - all this leads to the fact that the excitement around the next possible "end of the world" is becoming stronger.

The YUGA.ru portal publishes the 10 most popular versions of the Apocalypse scenarios.

1. Aliens

Aliens abduct, capture, and massacre the Earth's population in most science fiction films and books. However, in recent times this topic has ceased to be the lot of exclusively ufologists, becoming the subject of discussion by serious scientists.

So, in early 2010, the British Royal Society held hearings on the topic: "Detection of extraterrestrial life and its consequences for science and society", which was attended by leading experts in the field of astronomy, astrophysics and biology, as well as specialists from NASA, the European Space Agency and the United Nations Agency for Outer Space Affairs.
One of the topics for discussion was the appearance of potentially existing inhabitants of other worlds and their potential danger for earthlings, and in the speeches of many scientists there was a pessimistic view of the consequences of possible contact with other civilizations.

Then the famous astrophysicist Stephen Hawking said that humanity should be wary of colonization by aliens. According to one of the best minds of our time, aliens can simply use the Earth as a source of resources in order to casually capture it and move on.
"If inhabitants of other worlds fly to us, then the consequences may be the same as for the Indians after the arrival of Columbus in America, that is, not the best," Hawking emphasized.

At the same time, methods for searching for extraterrestrial intelligence continue to improve. For example, Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of California Santa Cruz Frank Donald Drake founded the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) organization half a century ago, which is engaged in the search for alien activity, suggested using the so-called. Einstein lenses.
And a specialist in physics and astronomy Marcelo Glaser from Dartmouth College improved the so-called. the Drake equation is a formula that can be used to calculate the number of intelligent civilizations with which earthlings could come into contact.

In addition, Bulgarian scientists from the Institute space research in January 2010, they announced that they had made contact with aliens and learned from them what exactly would happen to humanity in 2012. And representatives of the Klingon-Terran Research Ensemble not only staged the first opera in the Klingon language, but also directly invited representatives of this alien civilization of humanoid warriors from the Star Trek universe to personally participate in the premiere.

2. Black holes

There is a widespread belief that the operation of the world's largest particle accelerator, the Large Hadron Collider, could trigger the formation of black holes that would engulf our planet.

One of the main tasks of the LHC is the search for the Higgs boson - theoretically predicted elementary particle, which is responsible for the mass. It is believed that the necessary launch of the collider on full power can lead to a global catastrophe. According to pessimists, the artificial production of a particle that creates the entire mass of the universe can cause chain reaction involuntary growth of mass with the appearance of a black hole
In this regard, many serious scientists are sure that at the initial stage, they tried to interfere with the work of the LHC from the future or another dimension in order to prevent the emergence of a black hole or the appearance of a portal to a parallel universe.

Earlier, the head of CERN, Ralf-Dieter Heuer, promised that the doomsday expected by many will not happen, because. the collider is safe "within three dimensions".
"You can talk about micro-"black holes" that, supposedly, if they were created, they would decay like any normal particles. Can we create such holes at the LHC? Yes. But if we live in more than three-dimensional dimension. I can't exclude this: an ant that crawls on a table sees only two dimensions", he explained.

And according to one of the latest hypotheses of astrophysics, put forward in April 2010, our Universe itself is located inside a black hole, which is located in another world different from ours.

3. Catastrophe of extraterrestrial origin

Catastrophic consequences from the fall of comets or asteroids are traditionally considered the cause of mass death. species on the ground.

In particular, the culprit of the death of dinosaurs is also recognized fallen meteorite. At the same time, it was found that actual dimensions were much smaller than previously thought. Based on the abundance of the light isotope osmium in oceanic sediments, experts from Harvard University found that the object that wiped out the dinosaurs was 4.1 to 4.4 kilometers across. Previously, the size of a cosmic body that fell to Earth about 65 million years ago was estimated at 15-19 km in diameter.

And the fall of the Tunguska meteorite, which brought down more than 2 thousand kilometers of square forests in a blast wave, is also considered one of the causes of global warming.

According to scientists' calculations, the nearest collision of our planet with a large asteroid may occur in 18 years, on April 13, 2029. If the asteroid 2004 MN4, which has a diameter of about 396 meters, collides with the Earth's surface, tsunamis in the oceans and significant destruction on land are possible. According to scientists, the energy released in the event of a collision of this asteroid with the Earth will be equal to 1600 megatons.
The Potentially Hazardous Asteroid is rated 2 out of 10 on the Turin Impact Hazard Scale, which astronomers use to assess the threat to Earth from an asteroid or comet nucleus. Previously, none of the discovered small celestial bodies has received more than one point on this scale.

However, the probability of this event is estimated as 1 in 300 and can be reduced after further study of the asteroid's trajectory. In addition, experts believe that by this time an early warning system for possible space threats will have been developed.

4. Gamma burst

Gamma-ray bursts are large-scale cosmic bursts of energy that are observed in distant galaxies. Gamma-ray bursts are the most powerful sources of energy in the universe and are capable of releasing as much energy in seconds as our Sun will release over 10 billion years.

It is assumed that a directed gamma-ray burst towards our planet can lead to a mass extinction on Earth. Thus, the famous theoretical physicist and popularizer of science Michio Kaku writes in his book "Physics of the Impossible":
“If the flow of gamma radiation would be directed exactly at the Earth, and the source itself would be in our galactic neighborhood (at a distance of several hundred light years from the Earth), its power would be enough to completely destroy life on our planet.
At first, an electromagnetic pulse created by X-rays from a source of gamma-ray bursts would disable all electronic equipment on Earth. A powerful beam of X-ray and gamma radiation would cause irreparable harm to the earth's atmosphere, destroying the protective ozone layer. The gamma ray would then heat up the Earth's surface, setting off monstrous firestorms that would eventually engulf the entire planet. Maybe the source of gamma-ray bursts would not have blown up the planet, as shown in the movie " star Wars", but would surely destroy all life on it, leaving behind a charred desert."

5. Diseases

Infectious diseases have endangered humanity throughout its existence. The plague destroyed almost half of the population of those countries in which outbreaks of epidemics occurred. The prevalence of HIV infection by the beginning of the 21st century has acquired the character of a pandemic. Every time a person tries to enter a habitat alien to him, he exposes himself to the action of a huge number of dangerous microorganisms: SARS, bird and swine flu, Ebola.

The greatest concern among scientists is the emergence of superbugs - multidrug-resistant strains that are not amenable to treatment with traditional drugs. Some experts believe that one of driving forces The occurrence of these strains is precisely the use of antibiotics.

In addition to the growth in the number infectious diseases, the frequency of occurrence of hereditary pathologies increases every year. The advances of modern medicine and the lack natural selection lead to the fact that people with weak genes and congenital deformities survive and pass these genes on. Ultimately, the degeneration of the gene pool can lead to the fact that humanity will be unable to resist even the mildest diseases.

Another factor that could lead to extinction human race, is the problem of infertility. So, a new study conducted by specialists from the University of Turku in Finland showed that the quality and quantity of sperm in men has deteriorated significantly over the past decade. This is facilitated by exposure to industrial chemicals, as well as excessive coffee consumption, obesity, and frequent use of mobile phones and laptops.

6. The third world war using the latest weapons

Nuclear war, which would lead to nuclear winter and global radioactive contamination, was considered one of the possible outcomes. cold war in the second half of the 20th century.

In case of application nuclear weapons in the Third World War, most of humanity can be destroyed. But even a limited nuclear conflict would catastrophically change climate and environmental conditions and affect the entire globe. Such hypothetical changes are called nuclear autumn.
Experts believe that in the case of limited nuclear war possible acid rain, soil contamination, local epidemics of radiation sickness and the mass death of many representatives of the plant and animal world.

Another option could be a world war using biological weapons. The damaging effect of such weapons is based, first of all, on the use of the properties of pathogenic strains of microorganisms and their metabolic products. In addition to the destruction of humanity, biological weapons can have an unpredictable impact on the state of the biosphere.

7. Robots

Development information technologies and the advances of modern robotics raise fears that sooner or later robots may conquer the earth.
So, an employee of the University of California, professor of computer science Michael Dyer believes that in a few hundred years there may be no living people left on earth.

Dyer identified four scenarios that could lead to the replacement of humans or other living beings by robots, and believes that this is the fate that awaits most living beings in space exploration.
First, the dominance of robots over humans can arise through dependence on technology. The ever-increasing dependence on machines to do our work may one day reach a critical point where robots will rise up against their creators.
The second option assumes that robots will replace humans during the arms race.
The third way can be the natural desire of mankind for immortality, as a result of which consciousness will be transferred to an electronic medium. One of the most famous futurologists in the world, Raymond Kurzweil, is sure that it will be possible to completely copy the brain of any person in 20 years.
According to the scientist, by 2014 the power of a supercomputer will be comparable to the power of the human brain, and in the 2020s, nanobots will be widely used in medicine, which will be able to deliver nutrition to the cells of the body, remove waste, and also scan the nervous system, which will fully understand nuances of the brain. By 2029, a computer will be able to completely imitate the work of the brain, including passing the Turing test, after which a technological singularity will come by 2045.
The fourth path of development, according to Dyer's assumptions, is connected precisely with travel in interstellar space. Travel creates serious problems for our body. And synthetic organisms can withstand a wide range of conditions, both during flight and on other planets. If the new planet turns out to be inhospitable for biological objects, then it will not matter for robots.

Guided by these considerations, Dyer came to the conclusion that if aliens ever arrive on our planet, then most likely they will also turn out to be artificial life forms.

8. Sun

The sun is extremely important for life on Earth, but it can also become a threat.

The processes taking place in the sun have a negative impact on technologies on which humanity is increasingly dependent. Thus, solar flares can disrupt radio communications and power supply, and lead to fires. Even minor solar storms have a devastating impact, damaging electrical and communications infrastructure and causing havoc around the world.

One of options the end of the world is considered the occurrence of an extremely powerful flash that will suddenly hit the Earth. Also, scientists do not exclude the hypothetical possibility of the opposite option. Experts believe that some natural disasters may limit the access of sunlight to our planet, leading to a cooling of the Earth.

9. Supervolcanoes

Supervolcanoes are called volcanoes that produce extremely powerful and voluminous eruptions. Such eruptions can lead to the fact that the landscape and climate on our planet will change radically. The result of these changes will be catastrophic consequences, such as a volcanic winter.

By analogy with nuclear winter, volcanic occurs as a result of severe pollution of the atmosphere with ash and combustion products as a result of a volcanic eruption. As a result of such pollution, the radiation of the Sun is filtered much more strongly than usual, which leads to global cooling and mass extinction of species. According to one theory, the eruption of the Toba volcano 74 thousand years ago was the reason for the decline in the global population of ancestors. modern people up to about 10 thousand individuals.

Nowadays, the greatest danger of volcanic winter comes from the Yellowstone supervolcano in Yellowstone. national park in the USA. In a very real scenario of the eruption of this volcano, millions or even billions of people could become victims around the world.

The danger of supervolcanoes is that, unlike other threats to humanity, such as space impacts or nuclear attack, there is no strategy to prevent a super-eruption.

10. Zombies

The zombie apocalypse is one of the most popular doomsday scenarios in modern culture. The problem of survival in a zombie virus pandemic, when uninfected people remain in the minority, is devoted to a large number of books and science fiction films.

Recently, however, scientists have somewhat reduced the skepticism associated with this topic. Thus, employees of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considered that a zombie attack is a universal example of an emergency situation. Based on these considerations, experts published the first official instructions in case of a massive zombie invasion. The person who can survive the zombie apocalypse will be able to handle any danger, according to the CDC.

Also, Italian physicists have developed the most effective demeanor for salvation during the invasion of zombies. And Canadian mathematicians have calculated the optimal strategy to deal with the invasion of the living dead. According to scientists from the University of Ottawa and Carleton University, zombies can take over a city of half a million people in just three days. In this case, the most effective option is the total destruction of all carriers of the zombie virus.

In addition, the popular American science magazine Wired presented the top 10 reasons why being a zombie is not very convenient from a practical point of view.

And in 2003, American writer Mel Brooks (author of the screenplay for Batman Future and Justice League) wrote the best-selling Zombie Survival Guide, in which he described the living dead as a real-life natural phenomenon that people encountered with ancient times.

The topic of turning part of the Earth's population into bloodthirsty zombies that walk the streets of cities and hunt those who are still alive has been worrying the minds for many decades. Interest in zombies has been gaining momentum lately, while the United States continues to be the main supplier of stories about the dead. It is here that they constantly wonder about when the zombie apocalypse will be and diligently prepare for this day. The Pentagon has even developed a plan of action in case of such a phenomenon. Why this question excites people, we will try to figure it out today.

Apocalypse problem

The zombie apocalypse is a fantasy scenario in many horror films where some viral infection turns healthy people into cannibals who are aggressive and this leads to the extinction of the Earth's population.

In 1968, real zombies in the form of the bloodthirsty dead were introduced into culture thanks to the movie Night of the Living Dead. After this, ideas about the apocalypse began to act as standard models that were applied to many areas of popular culture. The fictional apocalypse scenarios involve a zombie invasion with an infectious virus, much like an epidemic of a real disease. The bite of a walking dead contributes to the death of a person and his subsequent transformation into a monster that is eager to attack living people. The military and police cannot deal with such a massive threat, so those who are left must fight.

The scenario also describes how to defend against zombies. To do this, you need to find a weapon and a car in which to go to a deserted place and settle there. First you need to stock up on food, clothing, water, medicines and various equipment.

Reality and Zombies

Many scientists have developed a model of a zombie apocalypse as a viral epidemic of unknown origin, where they pointed out that the existence of this problem will lead to the collapse of civilization. In 2011, a humorous instruction was published on how what to do during a zombie apocalypse. This joke aroused public interest. Three years later, the Pentagon developed a plan to evacuate people from cities if such a catastrophe happened.

In Britain, scientists have calculated how much time will pass before the complete destruction of mankind in the event of an apocalypse. According to their assumptions, within a hundred days the number of people on earth will be two hundred people, and zombies - one hundred million individuals. They also found that, , it will become global in twenty days. The chances of getting infected in this case will be 90%, while the dead themselves would live for twenty days, after which they would be eliminated due to hunger and dehydration.

Preparing for the apocalypse

Today, almost everyone knows. They swept popular culture fairly quickly, appearing in movies, books, video games, and so on. Americans have a deeply imprinted fear of the crowds of the dead who want to feast on living flesh. Therefore, so-called anti-zombie kits began to appear in many weapons stores, which included real knives, shotguns and more.

The comedian released a "Survival Guide" in case of an apocalypse, which formed the basis of the famous film "World War Z". The Pentagon has developed plan CONOP 888, which describes the actions to attack the zombies. There are regular exercises in Kansas, so everyone is ready for that moment. Also, this topic is highlighted by the media, periodically giving out news, which, of course, are ducks.

But most people tend to believe a fake, so they are seriously preparing for a massive epidemic. For example, several years ago it was reported that on the shore of Fr. Thomas, a male body was thrown away with skin peeled off. When the police arrived, the drowned man stood up and attacked them. The guards began to shoot at the man, but this had no effect, so they began to retreat. One of the observers grabbed a pistol and shot the dead man in the head, from which he died. The body was taken by the military, who later claimed to exist. A few years later, the Minister of Australia, before the date of the expected end of the world (12/12/2012), issued a statement that she was ready to protect her people from the walking dead.

Virus Solanum

Zombies are not the result of black magic or any other force. They come from a virus called Solanum. And whether there will be a zombie apocalypse depends on how quickly this virus spreads on the planet. This virus spreads through the blood from the site of entry to the brain. It uses frontal cells to copy data, which it then destroys. When this happens, all body functions stop, the brain does not die, but goes into a dormant state, and Solanum turns body cells into new organs. The resulting new organism is not dependent on oxygen. Upon completion of the mutation, the body comes to life, but it is similar to a corpse. Some functions of the body remain, others function to a limited extent, and still others stop altogether. This the new kind called a zombie - a representative of the living dead. Thus, the Solanum virus creates real zombies, it enters the bloodstream of a healthy person, causing certain mutations.

Survive by any means!

Survival is the main goal in the apocalypse. When confronted with the living dead, many abilities are needed: first aid, weapon skills, leadership, and more. Currently, many films are devoted to this topic, by reviewing which you can get knowledge on how to survive and fight zombies. To eliminate such an individual, it is necessary to turn off its brain, other ways to deal with these creatures have not been found.

the walking Dead

Today, almost everyone knows These are the walking dead, who embody evil. They are endowed with unmotivated rage, aggression towards the living, strong hunger, they walk in packs. Their brain is affected, the functions of the body do not work, the tissues decompose. But there is no logic in all this, such creatures are observed only in pop culture and have nothing to do with reality.

This image of a zombie was created for the plots of films for the purpose of box office. After all, it is the dead that people who believe in the zombie apocalypse are most afraid of. Science refutes the possibility of the existence of such walking dead. Thus, it has been proven that metabolic processes do not occur in a dead body, there is no tissue regeneration, there is no biochemistry in it, which is capable of providing thinking, movement, reflexes and aggression itself. It follows that zombies in real life will not be able to walk, because they do not have internal energy for this. Since the bonds between the tissues are very weak, they would simply fall apart. In addition, the dead do not have digestion, so they cannot eat their victims.

zombie man

This version is more realistic and to some extent fits modern times. According to some interpretations, a modern zombie obeys someone's orders, it is a person with an undermined mental health and memory. He is a kind of slave without consciousness and will, deprived of independence, and follows orders from outside.

We know what a zombie apocalypse is from movies and books, but what if it's already here? In this case, sectarians act as zombies, who blindly give their property to the sect, and in some cases commit murders and suicides. By manipulating the human mind, their leaders commit various illegal acts through the hands of other people. Also, those who blindly believe in political rhetoric can become zombies. Such a zombie apocalypse has already been in our history and claimed a huge number of lives - it was called fascism.

infected people

Pop culture has created a kind of zombie, which corresponds to a healthy person, infected dangerous virus, it makes him aggressive and hungry, having lost his sanity. Such a virus, according to some sources, is created in a military laboratory that develops biological weapons. Therefore, the question of When does the zombie apocalypse start?, is highly relevant. In fact, such viruses already exist in nature and are familiar to many people.

Real viruses

AT modern world there are several diseases. People who get them are somewhat like zombies:

1. Toxoplasmosis is a disease that is transmitted from cats. Many studies that have been conducted on rats have shown that when infected with this virus, they begin to eat themselves. This disease actually affects half the globe. People with strong immune systems do not notice any symptoms, but those whose immune systems are weakened notice outbursts of anger and auto-aggression. Although toxoplasmosis to date has not turned anyone into a zombie.
2. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is an ailment of the cerebral cortex and neuronal nodes, which is dystrophic in nature. The human brain is damaged, hallucinations begin, dementia appears, loss of skills, inadequate thinking, rage. There is no cure for this disease, it can be hereditary and acquired. But this disease is unlikely to lead to a zombie apocalypse, since a person with such an ailment dies within two years.
3. African trypanosomiasis is caused by the bite of a tsetse fly. The disease affects the central nervous system, there are bouts of hunger, accompanied by fatigue and lethargy. Perhaps this disease created the image of zombies among African peoples. But this disease is completely curable and will not lead to the apocalypse.

Zombies in modern culture

So ? Most likely never. Zombie is just a popular brand that was created to make money. This image symbolizes a person's phobias, something terrible that one can encounter in life. And many earn on these phobias. Today, almost everyone knows who zombies are, what they look like, what they eat and how to kill them. And all this thanks to modern culture: cinema and literature. In communication, the words “zombies”, “apocalypse”, “walking dead” and so on began to be used more and more often. Some universities around the world are studying zombies as a cultural phenomenon. Students are engaged in considering the question of why filming has been taking place lately. great amount movies about these monsters, and what interests them common man. Every year in various countries world is a procession of a large number of people, disguised as the dead. Sociologists and psychologists are still studying this phenomenon.

Results

Thus, the zombie in the modern world expresses human fears from which it is impossible to escape. It is films that give rise to these phobias, which in many cases require medical treatment. And the apocalypse, most likely, will not come for the next hundred years.