Attack of the Zombie Parasites!

Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate Did someone say BRAAAAAINS…? Subscribe: http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub Twitter: @okaytobesmart ↓ More info and sources below ↓ Shows like The Walking Dead are full of hungry, mindless, surprisingly fleet-footed armies of brain-eating zombies. Could they actually exist? Are zombies real? Well, maybe if you're talking about zom-bees! This week I introduce you to some of nature's strangest mind-controlling parasites, who make zombies of the natural world. This one will make your brain tingle. That's just the awesome science, though… not a parasite. Promise! Watch the full video clips used in this episode: KQED zom-bees https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdZ3M8C6yhs BBC cordyceps https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuKjBIBBAL8 Jewel wasp: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vl_9kghmChw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWAV1zj5TXQ Cricket horsehair worm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df_iGe_JSzI Red berry ants: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4Rj89-wuDo NatGeo zombie snails: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go_LIz7kTok LEARN MORE: Ed Yong's TED talk: http://www.ted.com/talks/ed_yong_suicidal_wasps_zombie_roaches_and_other_tales_of_parasites Biochemistry of parasitic zombies: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/11/science/parasites-use-sophisticated-biochemistry-to-take-over-their-hosts.html?_r=1& An entire issue of the Journal of Experimental Biology dedicated to parasitic control of hosts: http://jeb.biologists.org/content/216/1.toc Have an idea for an episode or an amazing science question you want answered? Leave a comment below! Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/okaytobesmart http://twitter.com/jtotheizzoe Follow on Tumblr: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com Follow on Instagram: http://instagram.com/jtotheizzoe ----------------- It's Okay To Be Smart is written and hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.DFollow me on Twitter: @jtotheizzoe Email me: itsokaytobesmart AT gmail DOT com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmart Google+ https://plus.google.com/+itsokaytobesmart For more awesome science, check out: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com Produced by PBS Digital Studios: http://www.youtube.com/user/pbsdigitalstudios Joe Hanson - Creator/Host/Writer Joe Nicolosi - Director Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen IncKate Eads - Associate Producer Andrew Matthews - Editing/Motion Graphics/Animation Katie Graham - Director of Photography John Knudsen - Gaffer Dalton Allen - Post-Production Intern Theme music: "Ouroboros" by Kevin MacLeod Other music via APM Stock images from Shutterstock ----------------- Last week's video: Why Does February Have 28 Days? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgKaHTh-_Gs More videos: Why Vaccines Work https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aNhzLUL2ys Why Are Some People Left-Handed? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPvMUpcxPSA Where Does the Smell of Rain Come From? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGcE5x8s0B8 Why Did We Blow on NES Games? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Gf9mtXnJfM The Science of Game of Thrones - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Utu-LpJn3Is There Was No First Human - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdWLhXi24Mo