World Population Projections

[mellenORL]

I just hope the next outbreak isn't like a certain fungus in South America that plants itself in ants' (or other insects) heads and makes them climb so that it can bloom and spread its spores all over. If that ended up happening to humans, we would be in a world of trouble.

I remember that thing. I really hope it is. Think about it, they abandon the pack, mindlessly wander to their destination (which, would be different for them, because they'd look to climb buildings and not have ant-climbing powers), and would be a mindless threat with no regard for its safety. And we'd need to wipe them out. Or in other words, motherfuckin' zombies.

Call 'em "Fungies"

[Witchyjoshy]

Or clickers.

[Feral Dog]

Human brains are the slightest bit more complicated than ant or fish brains, though. Any complex behavioural alteration that doesn't already exist would take too long to evolve, and we'd be able to deal with it easily.

Tell that to Toxoplasmosa gondii. Nothing as dramatic as what it does to rats (it makes them run toward cat sounds and smells), but it does have an impact on human behavior (and, even better, 20-80% of all humans are already infected!)

[Sigmaleph]

Human brains are the slightest bit more complicated than ant or fish brains, though. Any complex behavioural alteration that doesn't already exist would take too long to evolve, and we'd be able to deal with it easily.

Tell that to Toxoplasmosa gondii. Nothing as dramatic as what it does to rats (it makes them run toward cat sounds and smells), but it does have an impact on human behavior (and, even better, 20-80% of all humans are already infected!)

I did specify complex behavioural alterations. Toxoplasmosis might cause things like higher risk of psychiatric illnesses and risk-taking behaviour, but nothing as complex as the Cordyceps fungi's effect on ants. Also, from what I can find, it isn't entirely certain whether toxo causes all this or is simply correlated with it (sharing risk factors, etc.).

[PosthumanHeresy]

Human brains are the slightest bit more complicated than ant or fish brains, though. Any complex behavioural alteration that doesn't already exist would take too long to evolve, and we'd be able to deal with it easily.

Tell that to Toxoplasmosa gondii. Nothing as dramatic as what it does to rats (it makes them run toward cat sounds and smells), but it does have an impact on human behavior (and, even better, 20-80% of all humans are already infected!)

The only reason I don't want that one to go superpowered is because I'm certainly infected. Oh! And it increases rage in human beings, you forgot that.