Zombie Bugs Hijack Brains, Outperform Your Last Zoom Call
In 'Rise of the Zombie Bugs,' science scribe Mindy Weisberger reveals a creepy 2025 trend: fungi and worms zombifying unlucky arthropods, from cicadas turned fungal spore-launching zombies (courtesy of Chip Somodevilla/Getty), to cricket-suicide hairworms mimicking 'Alien' invasions. Flatworms drape snail eyestalks in flashing larvae to lure birds—basically nature’s nightmare Tinder. The saga features wasp larvae manipulating spiders’ hormones to build suicide webs, a hormonal cocktail mystery even PhD labs can't untangle. These parasites suppress immune systems so pastries could succeed in medical flips, all while teaching us how NOT to behave when sick: lick everyone relentlessly like a real human zombie virus. Get spooked, get fascinated, and let science teach your immune system some manners!
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Source: Vox | Published: 10/13/2025 | Author: Byrd Pinkerton
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