January 31, 2025
Colloquium Topic: Rise of the Zombie Bugs: The Surprising Science of Parasitic Mind-Control
Zombies are all around us—insect zombies, that is. In Rise of the Zombie Bugs, Mindy Weisberger explores the eerie yet fascinating phenomenon of real-life zombification in the insect class and among other invertebrates. Zombifying parasites reproduce by rewriting their victims' neurochemistry, transforming them into the "walking dead": armies of cicadas, spiders, and other hosts that helplessly follow a zombifier's commands, living only to serve the parasite's needs until death's sweet release (and often beyond).
Through vivid descriptions and captivating storytelling, Weisberger explains the sinister mechanics of nature's most cunning survival strategies, including the biological marvels and evolutionary intricacies behind zombie ants, mind-controlled beetles, and the fungi and viruses that reprogram their hosts' behavior. Blending scientific rigor with a flair for the macabre, Weisberger takes readers on a global journey—from Brazilian rainforests to European meadows—to uncover the dark secrets of parasitic manipulation.
Her examination of these creatures seeks to answer fundamental questions of their existence: why is a bug's world full of zombies, why are arthropods so susceptible to this zombification, and could the creators of zombie bugs ever evolve to do the same to people? Perfect for fans of horror and science alike, Rise of the Zombie Bugs offers a chilling yet enlightening look at the hidden world of parasites. It's a must-read for anyone curious about the true terrors lurking in nature's undergrowth and the unnerving beauty of evolution's darker side.
Colloquium Speaker: Mindy Weisberger
Mindy Weisberger is a science writer, editor and media producer. As a journalist, she has covered climate change, space exploration, paleontology, parasites, archaeology, new species discoveries and weird animal behavior. Bylines include Live Science, CNN, Scientific American, Space.com and How It Works Magazine.
Mindy studied film at Columbia University, and for more than a decade she produced, wrote and directed media for the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Her videos about dinosaurs, astrophysics, biodiversity and evolution appear in museums and science centers worldwide, and have earned awards such as the CINE Golden Eagle and the Communicator Award of Excellence.
She has talked about science on Cheddar’s Morning Bell, FOX News’ science show Four4Four and NPR’s Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me, and she co-hosted the science podcast Life’s Little Mysteries with Live Science editor-in-chief Jeanna Bryner. Mindy was also a regular contributor and on-camera presenter for the Live Science YouTube series Life’s Little Mysteries, Particles, Strange News Snapshot and LIVE/Science.
Her book, Rise of the Zombie Bugs: The Surprising Science of Parasitic Mind-Control, about behavior manipulators and zombification in the natural world, will be published by Hopkins Press Books in Spring 2025.