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When Zombies Attack!: Mathematical Modeling of an Outbreak of Zombie Infection |
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Topic: Science |
8:17 am EDT, Aug 19, 2009 |
Philip Munz, et al: Zombies are a popular figure in pop culture/entertainment and they are usually portrayed as being brought about through an outbreak or epidemic. Consequently, we model a zombie attack, using biological assumptions based on popular zombie movies. We introduce a basic model for zombie infection, determine equilibria and their stability, and illustrate the outcome with numerical solutions. We then refine the model to introduce a latent period of zombification, whereby humans are infected, but not infectious, before becoming undead. We then modify the model to include the effects of possible quarantine or a cure. Finally, we examine the impact of regular, impulsive reductions in the number of zombies and derive conditions under which eradication can occur. We show that only quick, aggressive attacks can stave off the doomsday scenario: the collapse of society as zombies overtake us all.
Nanochick: I hope to see more of this type of thing ... taking literature and "livening" it up a bit with some zombie action!!
Dateline Austin, Texas: If you're driving in Austin, you can rest assured: There are no zombies ahead.
Really? Like a lot of monsters, zombies have their roots in folklore and -- according to some researchers -- in real events in Haiti.
From the archive: We should probably tell you that the full title of this game is Zombies! Apocalypse - Massive Multiplayer Online Zombies Massacre, even though that's basically given away the point of it all.
When Zombies Attack!: Mathematical Modeling of an Outbreak of Zombie Infection |
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