Vampirism and Zombism- Science or Myth

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Oh, the science behind vampirism and zombism – it's a topic that's been debated by scientists and horror fans alike for years. Some say it's all just fiction, while others insist that there must be some sort of scientific explanation for these supernatural creatures. So, let's take a captivating look at the science behind vampirism and zombism.

Note: "Zombism" is a word manufactured by me

Let's start with vampires, shall we

The traditional lore says that vampires are immortal, drink blood to survive, and are allergic to sunlight. So, what could cause such a creature to exist?

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Some scientists say that it's all in the genes. They believe that certain genetic mutations could lead to a condition that makes a person crave blood and be sensitive to sunlight. But others argue that this is just plain ridiculous, as there is no known genetic condition that causes a person to turn into a bat or sleep in a coffin.

Some believe that vampirism is a disorder caused by a condition known as porphyria. This is a rare genetic disorder that affects the production of heme, which is a component of hemoglobin. People with porphyria can be sensitive to sunlight, have reddish urine, and even crave blood due to the body's need for heme. While this condition could explain some of the symptoms associated with vampirism, it's still a far cry from the immortal, supernatural beings that we see in movies and books.

Another theory is that vampirism is caused by a virus. Some scientists believe that a virus could be responsible for a person's desire to drink blood and their aversion to sunlight. But again, this theory has yet to be proven. And let's be honest, if vampires were real, we'd all be in trouble, because a virus that can turn you into a blood-sucking creature would be pretty hard to contain.

Now, let's move on to zombies ooooooh!.

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These undead creatures are known for their insatiable hunger for brains, they cant and dont communicate, so dont even bother reasoning with , they also lack coordination in all dimension (please dont ask me the dimension cause I dont know). So, what could cause someone to turn into a zombie? Some scientists say that a virus or a bacterium could be to blame. They believe that a pathogen could invade the brain and cause a person to lose their cognitive functions, leaving them with only their basic instincts. But others argue that this is just a fanciful theory, as there is no known virus or bacterium that can cause someone to turn into a mindless, flesh-eating zombie.

One other zombie-based theory is the speculation that zombism is caused by exposure to radiation. Some scientists believe that exposure to certain types of radiation could cause a person's cells to break down and turn them into a zombie. But again, this theory has yet to be proven, and if it were true, we'd all be living in fear of a zombie outbreak every time we walked past a nuclear power plant.

Some other school of thought suggests that toxins could be the cause of zombism. Certain toxins, such as those found in the pufferfish, can cause paralysis and even death in humans. It's possible that exposure to a similar toxin could cause a person's body to shut down while leaving the brain intact, resulting in a zombie-like state. But once again, there's no definitive evidence to support this theory.

You see when it comes to zombies, there are even more theories to consider. One theory suggests that a parasite could be to blame. It's been found that some parasites can infect the brain and alter the behavior of their host. This could potentially explain why zombies are driven by a singular goal – to consume living flesh. However, there's no known parasite that has been linked to the creation of zombies, so this is still just a hypothesis.

Now!!!, while there are plenty of theories about the science behind vampirism and zombism, there's no clear answer as to what causes these supernatural creatures to exist. Perhaps they're simply the product of our imaginations, a way to satisfy our desire for a little bit of fright and excitement in our lives. Or maybe, just maybe, there's something out there that we have yet to discover, something that could explain the existence of these terrifying and fascinating creatures, that is if they even exist, OMG!!!. All this could be a made up figment of our imagination.

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In the end, whether they exist or not, whether they are figment of our imagination or not or just a myth, the mystery of vampirism and zombism remains unsolved. But that's part of what makes them so captivating, right? – the fact that we don't have all the answers means that we can continue to speculate, imagine, entertained by their stories for years to come, but the fact is this concept remains vague. Yeah, we can speculate all we want, but until we have concrete evidence, these creatures will remain firmly in the realm of fiction. But that doesn't mean we can't enjoy their stories and their spooky, supernatural antics. After all, sometimes it's more fun to believe in the impossible than to accept the boring reality of the world around us.

Thanks exploring this with me, Sayonara 🖐

Let me know what you think ...

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6 comments
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True scientists firmly believe that the supernatural does not exist. If it is supernatural, then it is beyond the scope of science or at least the way we conceive of science, which is naturalistic by definition. If zombies and vampires exist, then they must not be supernatural.

If humans could somehow exhibit behavior that is considered typical of zombies and vampires, that would still not make them zombies or vampires. At best I would call it an analogy.

On the other hand, although we cannot prove a negative, we have strong evidence pointing to a mundane, literary or mythical origin of these imaginary beings. Your article is interesting, although a bit sensational; if I had written it, I would have been more emphatic with this point of the implausibility of vampires and zombies so as not to give rise to confusion, since they are not really "a mystery", nor an "unsolved case" or the like.

Good fun facts about porphyria and others.

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(Edited)

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this @eniolw. I agree with you 100% that true scientists believe that the supernatural does not exist. Science as we know it is based on naturalistic principles, and anything that falls outside the realm of natural phenomena is considered outside the scope of science. But some do allow the benefit of doubt

Now while zombies and vampires may exist in popular culture and literature, they are not considered to be real entities by the scientific community. Any behavior exhibited by humans that may resemble the behavior of zombies or vampires is simply an analogy so to say and not a reflection of their actual existence.

And of course you make an excellent point about the importance of emphasizing the implausibility of these imaginary beings to avoid confusion. It's essential to separate fact from fiction and ensure that people don't mistake popular culture or what I would otherwise call myth for reality.

Overall, I welcome your input, and I believe that it's important to approach these topics with a critical and analytical mindset to ensure that we are separating truth from myth

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I'd love to think that they're a myth

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Well that is your own opinion, some others think otherwise

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