Zombie Enzymes

Biomimetics is a field of engineering that seeks to learn new engineering design principles and technologies from nature. As an engineer or scientist, suppose you wanted to move on in your career, become a MAD scientist (generally self-employed, better pay, more time at home ...), and take over the world with a zombie army?

The technology isn't in use yet (by humans), but never fear. Nature is here. Biomimetics can serve you, be you mad scientist, disgruntled university student, or Halloween prankster. It's all in the enzymes.

A recent article in the New York Times Science section reviewed the current issue of the Journal of Experimental Biology. The whole issue is dedicated to parasites in nature that turn their hosts into zombies and force them into subservience.

Viruses - A Vector to Remember

Invisible killers. An unsanitary butcher in Indonesia shakes hands with a tourist who sneezes in the airport and contaminates a traveler to New York who exposes a taxi driver who dooms the city to mortality en masse. Is this your view of viruses? It certainly is the view of the average person on the street (who won't want to shake your hand after you broach the topic of viruses). Perhaps your first thought was of a computer virus and a blue screen error. Viruses are bad, right?

WRONG! Viruses can be extremely bio-awesome, if you give them a chance. They are a hot tool in biotech, and one that is under-appreciated.