A special lecture by: THE MIT ZOMBIE DEFENSE INITIATIVE

1. A special lecture by: THE MIT ZOMBIE DEFENSE INITIATIVE ZDI.002: Intermediate TOPICS IN ZOMBIE DEFENSE

2. Intermediate Topics: purpose • Provide students with scientific tools and knowledge necessary to carry out Survival Strategy • Teach biology to better assess thy enemy • Teach social dynamics to better assess thy friend

3. ASSESS THY ENEMY

4. Practical concerns • Vectors • Infection timeline • Incubation period • Symptoms timeline • Symptom-to-death delay • Infection & casualty rates • treatment

5. Etiology (cause) • Informs practical factors • Not immediately obvious • Likely Culprits • Viruses • Fungi • Runners-up • Other parasites • Bacteria • Designed factors

6. viruses • Most known neuro-virus: rabies • Moves up sensory nerves to spinal cord then brain • Bite proximity affects incubation! • Neurological damage  behavioral change • Recovered victims have permanent damage • Positive id as virus difficult under disaster conditions • If no signs of fungus or parasite, virus more likely than bacteria

7. Virus implications • Vector • Almost certainly bodily fluids • If infected coughing  probably airborne • Treatment (prevention-oriented) • Antivirals expensive, hard to obtain • As soon as symptoms show, person is casualty

8. Fungi • Parasitic fungi can modify host behavior • Cordyceps sp. Uses insects • Germinates on surface of host, moves through tracheae • Proximity to target affects incubation • Mycelia penetrate brain, release neurotransmitters, alter behavior • Alteration may not be permanent • Id as fungus: • Visible fruiting bodies, rashes (weak)

10. Fungi implications • Vector • Spores are airborne! • Cover all mucous membranes • Cover skin, check for rashes • Parasitic fungi often species-specific  animal vector less likely • Simple exposure bigger problem than bites • Treatment • OTC topical antifungals available • Oral antifungals exist, but hard to find

11. questions

12. Assess thy friend

13. Social Dynamics in Anarchy • Without state, social consent is law • You can do and get away with what others (with power) will let you get away with • Key to survival in groups

14. Handling idiots • Idiots are dangerous • Appeal first to rationality • If you cannot remove idiot, consider removing yourself • Make sure social approval comes before any attempt to “force” idiot • Avoid violence if at all possible; bad precedent

15. More on idiots • If weak: • Be merciful • Harshness upon the weak will hurt you socially • Communicate with those close to idiot • If armed: • Make sure to “Force” only with overwhelming power • Beware power parity—unstable equilibrium • If in charge: • If group is loyal to leader, leave! • Give leader a peaceful “out” after any coup • Win group approval before coup • Make sure power vacuum does not emerge

16. Friends: Assessing • you want valuable friends • Must contribute more than take • Need good teamwork • Bigger group not always better

17. Friends: How to befriend • All friendships are deals to survive • Appeal to self-interest • Respect bargaining power in negotiating • Make them comfortable/ confident in your loyalty

18. Friends: how to lead • Respect: create buy-in, don’t force • don’t abuse your power • Seek group consent for decisions • You’re in charge only as long as those following you continue to think it’s better to follow you • Don’t become the idiot in charge

19. Disclaimer: Ethics • Ethics change in the apocalypse • Allow yourself to reconsider ethics in new context… • don’t tread on ethics of others • Group consent > principled code

20. questions