fungus-infested zombies!

[ankh_hpl]

OK . . . these particular zombies are ants, but the idea of a parasitic fungus manipulating the behavior of its (dying) host to promote its own reproduction is still majorly creepy.  Thank you, Smithsonian.com. 

For all the horrific details -- and an equally nasty little story about "gaster flagging" -- check here.

And be glad you aren't a carpenter ant in Thailand.