The plausibility of a zombie apocalypse: Exploring the scientific underpinnings behind ‘The Walking Dead’

The television series “The Walking Dead” and its sequels have captivated audiences around the world with their intriguing premise of a zombie apocalypse. In the series, an unknown microorganism keeps dead people active, transforming them into ferocious and hungry walkers. While this premise is fascinating from a narrative standpoint, it begs the question: how plausible is a situation like “The Walking Dead” from a scientific standpoint?

Microorganisms and Control of Dead Bodies:

In “The Walking Dead”, it is suggested that an unknown microorganism is responsible for animating the dead and turning them into zombies. While the idea of ​​an organism controlling corpses may seem intriguing, there is no scientific evidence to support the existence of such a phenomenon. Microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses, can break down tissue after death, but they do not have the ability to maintain brain or physical activity in a dead body.

Resuscitation and Brain Activity:

One of the key elements in “The Walking Dead” is that the walkers retain some brain activity and are able to move and forage. From a scientific perspective, this poses significant challenges. Once a person dies, brain activity ceases due to lack of oxygen and nutrient supply. There is no scientific evidence that a microorganism can reactivate brain activity after death.

Decomposition and Physical State:

In the series, the walkers present an appearance of decay and physical deterioration. While the decomposition of bodies after death is a real process, the speed and extent of decomposition in “The Walking Dead” can be exaggerated for dramatic effect. Under normal conditions, human bodies decompose due to the action of bacteria and other decomposing organisms, but this process does not allow the bodies to remain active or mobile.

So while the premise of “The Walking Dead” is exciting from a narrative standpoint, from a scientific perspective, the existence of a microorganism that keeps dead people active is highly unlikely. The resuscitation of dead bodies and brain activity after death are concepts that have no scientific basis. Although the series offers us an escape into a fictional world of zombies, it is important to remember that its plot is rooted in imagination and fiction. In the real world, life and death remain complex and well-defined processes.