Mind-Altering Bugs

by pwg • 15 years ago

29 4 15 years ago

CrazedGeek• 15 years ago

I read this and immediately thought of a recent freakonomics podcast: http://freakonomicsradio.com/the-power-of-poop.html

As someone who suffers from IBS and lactose intolerance, I am excited about the possibility of this field of research.

ryanmolden• 15 years ago

There was an interesting article in this last weeks New Scientist magazine entitled "Befriending the Body Snatchers" which talks about parasitic organisms that take over their host's brains. I can't find an online posting of it, but it talks about things like ophiocordyceps camponoti-balzani (http://www.impactlab.net/2011/03/06/zombie-ants-controlled-b...), Gordian worms (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nematomorpha), Entomophthora (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entomophthora_muscae), sacculina (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacculina), and also the use of things like Beauveria Bassiana(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beauveria_bassiana) as a way to fight malarial mosquitoes. Interesting stuff, now if only it was posted online... :(

jeangenie• 15 years ago

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