“I’ll give you the 2012 thing”, she said, “but a zombie apocalypse? Come on, you don’t really beleive that do you?”
The 2012 thing - if you’re reading this article, chances are you’re already familiar with it. The 2012 thing refers to the conveniently predicted end-of-the-world or great change coming December 21st, 2012. Many apocalypse theories are vague and dark, leaving many details rough, ambiguous and open to interpretation. The 2012 eschaton comes from several cultures and gives us a very certain date to prepare not necessarily for the end of existence or the world, but “the end of the world as we know it” - TEOTWAWKI.
The date of 12/21/12 is derived from the end of a 5,125 year cycle for the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar, most notably used by the Maya civilization. The calendar completes its 13th cycle from its starting point. Correlating the Mayan date to our Gregorian calendar yields several different dates ranging from the 21str through the 23rd, but the 21st seems likely, as it coincides with the winter solstice, and though astrology has little to do with our daily affairs, astronomically the Earth is said to be aligned facing the center of the Milky Way behind the Sun on the 21st. This interesting termination of the calendar in our immediate lifetimes is waht brings many to reckon the date will bring about great global change or cataclism.
Prophecies aside, how does 2012 relate to a zombie apocalypse? Certainly our world could be forever changed on this date by an unnoticed eschatological asteroid, disease or terrible quaking of the earth. The walking dead? Also plausible. Current scientific research into disease, reanimation and cellular regenesis is progressing as rapidly as other scientific disciplines. Particualrly terifying is the reanimation of the 1918 Spanish influenza virus, responsible for a pandemic that killed an estimated 20 million people. Scientists have gathered important new clues to why the virus spread quickly and killed efficiently (though its use as a bio weapon has not been confirmed). The viral resurrection is brought about for research and a vaccine against itself - which of course has already been eradicated - and the virus is being harvested from corpses, notably the body of a woman buried in the Alaskan permafrost. Unchecked adaptive and oportunistic pathogens claim a definite component of our eschaton, and an escaped weaponised version will most certainly wreak havoc agains an unprepared and innocent populace. There’s no guarantee the new vaccine will work well on humans, a problem because nobody born after 1930 is immune to the 1918 strain.
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The physical walking dead demand a certain suspense of disbelief of course. Assuming a plausible 20% of the worlds population has been infected by a terminal pathogen, our fragile infrastructre and socioeconomic systems will begin to break down as well. Weakened immune systems will render humans more susceptible to the likes of Trypanosoma brucei, a parasite that carries nightmarish qualities, reducing many of its victims to a zombie-like state before they slip into a coma and die. Toxoplasma gondii can alter brain functions in rats, leading them to the jaws of cats - and in humans can change brain patterns to induce neuroses, paranoia and schizophrenia. Left with a rotting brain and primitive fight-or-flight instincts, an entire populace can be reduced to weakend lumbering shadows of humans, stumbling around for food. Not actually dead or undead, these stupified humans will be harbingers of disease, parasites, bacteria and infectious rot, whose saliva and blood will be rich with zombifying toxins.
Disease ridden walking corpses are one thing. Reanimating brain-dead humans has been discussed before and is a very real possibility. Restoring a human from a cryogenic stasis and reanimating their dying brain tissue yields the possibility that a human may not be the same as they were when they expired. This leaves much speculation as to a reanimated form of a human being, but combined with the virii and diseases mentioned above - you get the idea.
Five years is a fine timeframe for viruses to be developed and mutate as well as science achieving groundbreaking results in reanimation. “Where will I be in five years?” Loading shotguns and pistols seems like a nice course of action, but they’re more for your protection against opportunistic looters, crazies and deranged survivors rather than walking corpses. In five years I will be watching the news with cautious eyes - and stocking up like I would for any emergency.
Guns and beer.
25 thousand infected
1 Sam Nov 30, 2007 at 9:21 pm
Well, I’m receiving several dozen hits from assorted 2012 sites! I’d love to hear what you readers have to say about this.
2 Darius Feb 6, 2008 at 11:30 am
So will these “ZOMBIES” actually going to be flesheaters that actually wants to feed on us?
3 Sam Feb 7, 2008 at 3:27 pm
My research indicates no, they will not be flesh eaters, but perhaps live humans stricken with a horrible, mutagenic virus or nasty strain of rabies.
For more information, check out my post about different types of zombies, and their probability of existence.
http://www.undeadreport.com/2008/01/a-statistical-analysis-of-real-life-zombies/
4 joseph Feb 20, 2008 at 3:38 pm
The funny thing is I keep having re occouring nightmares of zombies. Never have I had these type of dreams my birthdate is 12.21.75. So I figured why not look up 2012 zombies and here I am. I plan on living in the country within 4 years and getting out of the city….
5 Andrew Feb 21, 2008 at 12:02 am
Same here, Joseph. I too have been constantly dreaming of the undead, but only because my friends and I have been dwelling on the thought for so long. I’ve done my share of homework, and judging by what this article reads, I’d say it’s extremely close if not entirely IDENTICAL to my own perception of 2012 and the zombie pandemic.
Sam, I have to say, you have an absolutely astonishing website here. Please contact me whenever you can via the e-mail I provided, or through my website, it’d be great to exchange theories, form conjoined speculations and what not.
6 Sam Feb 22, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Wow, several people have now told me about their end of the world zombie dreams, myself included. A girl from Maine wrote to tell me about hers - and how they seem like fighting practice.
A friend notes that you can tell the current weltgeist by what kind of horror genres are popular. In the 1950s, it was giant monsters, radiation and xenophobia. In the 60s it was the commies and invader movies. Vampires in the 80’s, like blood sucking corporate America. Zombie movies are extremely popular now - the idea that humanity has become mindless drones and slaves, unable of thought seeking only to annihilate each other. George Romero is spot on with his biting social commentary.
2012 zombie apocalypse seekers bring about a third of my traffic here - it would seem I’ve stumbled upon something quite interesting.
7 Zane Feb 23, 2008 at 9:40 pm
I believe 28 Days/Weeks Later movie to be a more realistic look of what could be a would be Zombie Scenario.
Being a virus more a less that causes people to go crazy and turn on others, much like what would be like rabies meets mad cow disease, being when bitten or having there blood infect you causing you to come down with the same symptoms as them.
As for calling this zombies or the undead is up to interpretation, but I have a saying for that, if it walks like a zombie, comes after me wanting to kill me like a zombie, and infects other people like a zombie, then to me it’s a zombie.
After all there are different types of zombies, but I do believe the idea of the walking dead or at most something that gives the illusion of being undead is at most possible or at least worth looking into.
Being like a person who’s brain dead, but still has the functions of the rest of there body, something crazy like that.
All in all 2012 be zombies or whatever might be a crazy year for us all, “no Christmas for me that year o.o” or nothing might happen, but to be honest I think people are expecting something to happen, but if it’s going to be zombies at least it’ll be something interesting, after all shooting zombies and all that seems much better then meteor crashing down on your house, or something like from that movie Day After Tomorrow, but then again that’s just me I guess, but only have a few years to go.
Btw what are the odds something like I Am Legend could happen, I can’t say the creatures to be zombie or not, but does that seem more possible then zombies?
8 Melissa Freake Mar 12, 2008 at 2:12 pm
This is amazing what was it yesterday a friend told me about 2012 so i go online did some quick research just to see what the fuss was about then i talk about this matter with my sig. other then i go to bed later that night with happy thoughts about what our imediate life hold for us and bam i dream about love and this intense sence like movie where i’m with somone in a sexual sence to then from there being on a subway with a dead like feeling of noone around to then being pursued by zombies i dunno what this is but then come online to seek what i can about the subject of 2012 to find this sight and find myself dumbfounded huh weird or what but lets hope i we don’t become the hunted !
9 Sam Mar 18, 2008 at 12:13 am
Zane, yes I do think a “28 days” scenario is highly likely, and yes, if it walks and groans like a zombie, well… You get the idea. As for I am legend - the disease kind fo turns people into vampires or feral creatures - and mutates them into some horrible huge mouthed thing. A disease or rabies simply won’t grant superhuman powers, but it could alter an infected persons normal state, inducing permanent aggression and perhaps adrenaline increased motor skills - in this case, a heart shot will still work.
Thanks for sharing Melissa, zombies are penetrating or eating some of our dreams. I hope you find some answers here.
10 Nate Mar 18, 2008 at 2:08 am
I just woke up from a dream about this very thing. It’s the 3rd one I’ve had in the last year and I rarely remember dreams. The funny thing about these dreams is how these seem so real. And I feel the same as what Sam said in his comments. My B-day is 10/03/1975 dont know why you mentioned yours but maybe there’s a correlation. My first two dreams I was running from zombies and very scared was the prevailing “feeling”. My last one (today) I seemed to be searching for them and I did have a handgun, but I was not as scared. I felt “experienced” in this one. In every dream though it was clear there was not too many people left on earth. Just thought I’d share that I’m a christian and have never experienced these kinds of things before. I’ve never even believed in this sort of thing happening. In my entire life I’ve seen 3 movies dealing with zombies and 1 video game called silent hill. Just odd to me that others are having similar experiences and it compelled me to write.
11 Nate Mar 18, 2008 at 2:10 am
oops i meant Josephs experience related to mine in the comment above
12 Cam Apr 7, 2008 at 3:26 am
this may seem weird but my b-day is 10/05/95 and the ppl who had dreams birthdays all ended in 5s my dream was i was 17 and leaving country to Canada and i camet across a deserted town and searched the place and it seemed like nates dream i was not scared but very calm (this part may seem weird) i had a samurai sword and a 45 mag handgun. i went into the towns wal*mart and i thought this would be a good base and after that i went searching for any other survivors and i found my best friend and i didnt know he was bittin and i took him to my base and when i was sleeping he bit me and i shot him in the head after that. i shuffled around the store and tried taking alot of medicens and my lungs wouldn’t work right and passed out
13 Cam Apr 16, 2008 at 3:46 am
maybe are dreams are premonitions
14 Future zombie slayer Apr 17, 2008 at 11:45 am
I had this dream once i was in the army and 1000 zombies came and we had to defend some random town.
15 Mandy Apr 20, 2008 at 5:48 am
hmmm… I always have weird zombie dreams, in one I was at my school but it seemed to look different, and I was trying to smash zombies with my electric guitar… my aim wasn’t so good though. In all my dreams its really sad, I try really hard to save people like my parents but no one listens and then I wake up…I never see the zombies but I know they’re there.
eMail me, mandy_rules_you@hotmail.com
My b-day is 8.11.93 umm does that mean anything? I feel safe because I think I will go to my school during an attack, just close all the gates as well as the inner ones and go upstairs (its an outdoor school, I live in a rough city so its like a prison) destroy the stairs, and settle in….
check out this site, very good for surviving: http://www.survivormall.com/ I’m going ot buy food, emergency kits, gas masks, chemical suits, portable shower, potty, cameras, etc and I’ll be set!
16 Rambo Apr 27, 2008 at 8:41 am
I’ve had plenty of very similar dreams to everyone here who’s mentioned thier own, so i can relate to you. Idk what you guys plan on doing, but me and my friends have a plan. We’ve already practiced building shelters in the woods around where we live[lansingburgh, N.Y.]. and, about a week before the dec. 21st, 2012, me, my friends, and people who we care about[hopefully all are willing to go], are going to get as much food and water as possible. Along with weapons and first aid. then we’re going into the heart of the Adirondack woods to create our own large campsite. And obviously we’ll set up come sort of perimeter, and hopefully find long-lasting[hopefully permanent] water and food sources. Remember, population in the forest will be extremely lower than city or even rural areas. I plan on surviving anything that comes our way. And idk what you guys think, but this plan certainly seems like a good one to me. Plus i know where the majority of things are in the Adirondacks, bc i grew up there. So, i’ll be there when the day finally comes. However, this will be a world-wide emergency. And, typically in mommoth sized problems, theres mammoth sized panics. And a panic can turn a plan you once had into something that just totally screwed up. So, even though it just simply won’t happen, the best thing possible would be for everyone to remain calm and just do what they had previously planned. But like I said, plans fail. So make your plan as close to failure proof as possible. Feel free to comment me, ask me questions, or even give advice. My aim sn is xDeathDealerSx IM me whenever.
17 Paul May 4, 2008 at 10:34 am
Well, I’m pretty freaked out by the whole idea. It really scares me, terrifies me.
First I had read about 2012, and it being about some large polar shift that will cause worldwide disasters. (Hurricanes, tornadoes, typhoons, earthquakes and the like.) And also about that causing technology to pretty much go ‘kaput’.
Now, I’m hearing about all of this zombie business. This scares me a lot more, though I think I would be better off trying to fend off ‘zombies’ than trying to keep my balance in an earthquake or anything of the sort. =P
Anyways…the whole thing terrifies me, and I don’t know what to think..
18 Nick May 7, 2008 at 1:17 am
awesome article
19 LOL May 9, 2008 at 5:04 am
What a crock of shit…you guys sound ridiculous.
20 Paul May 12, 2008 at 4:09 am
Not as ridiculous as the guy coming here just to poke fun. =P
Seriously, why bother?
21 2012 May 12, 2008 at 2:41 pm
THIS IS STUIPED SHIT, ALL YOU ARE DOING IS FEEDING AMERICA WITH RIDICULOUS LIES(JUST LIKE DR.PHIL.) THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A DAMN ZOMBIE AND IF THERE IS LET IT COME DOWN HERE IN THE WOODS OF KENTUCKY AND SEE WHAT THE HILLBILLYS DOWN HERE DO. WE WILL BLOW THAM DAMN THINGS AWAY LIKE WE ARE THE IRAQIANS.
22 Sam May 13, 2008 at 4:48 am
I’m not sure what to say to that last comment… But thanks anyway. I’m feeding no lies, just presenting information, research and ideas. You do what you want with that, if you choose to ignore it, so be it. Personally, I’d be more afraid of the hillbilly Kentuckians not being able to distinguish between kin and zed.
23 tj May 14, 2008 at 6:18 pm
yo. i have been putting alot of thought to the end of the world by a zombie apocolypse…. i am a gun collector and have 17 high powered assault rifles, and have a sound proof basement with a wet bar with booz for a lifetime and huge tv, and a shit load of food. if the zombies come im goin in my truck for the people i can save. then assaulting a wal mart or something with the guns and the people with me to get a bunch of food, booz, and supplies. then gonna reinforce my basement where the tv and mor guns and ammo are at. then im just gonna chill down there with everyone that is still alive and wait for the millitary to either glass the whole state or to come and kill off the mass of zombies and save my drunk ass. but if that does happen i promised myself not the just be a little bitch and hide. im gonna go out with a bang and as a hero saving as many people as possible.
24 Stefano May 15, 2008 at 2:17 am
Pretty interesting article, it was a good read. I’ve known about the 2012 thing for quite a while but a friend of mine recently said to me that its more than likely to be a zombie outbreak. I don’t see how its possible that people who lived thousands of years ago could predict a zombie outbreak, so I believe thats out of the question, heres an interesting fact for all of you, the people who made the star calender thing that stops on 21.12.2012 where supposedly in touch with aliens, they made drawings of them and they called them star children or something along the lines of that, strange skulls that aren’t human have been found at mayan (I can’t remember if its maztecs or mayans) burial sites its true I read this book about it, google it you’ll find some good information. Anyway back on topic, I also have zombie dreams and have been having them for quite awhile (I think we’ve been watching too many zombie films), I just happen to have been born on december 21st as well. I would love to be in a zombie pandemic, like that guy who said he would ram raid walmart, I would do that as well and get all the bevy,cigarettes,water and food to last me years, I would also raid drug dealers house to get a stash to last me a while that would be so shit if there was a zombie epidemic and I couldn’t get any smoke haha. Shame guns are illegal in my country, but if there was a zombie like pandemic the military could easily handle it with all the different guns and armored vehicles and what not…
25 Nikica Zaninovic May 16, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Hi my name is Nikica Zaninovic i am a scientist at Cornell university I led my team in making the first gm human embryo fell free to look me up.. My friend told me about 2012 so i decided to investigate. Because i was having dreams related to the comments stated above.Except my last one i woke up screaming and in a cold sweat. the dream was that the institution i work at was deserted. I was in my quarters with a shot-gun and a bible. Then the door get knocked down and im swarmed by these creatures. But i escaped somehow and then i was on the streets and the street was a complete wreck. wrecked cars,broken windows, newspapers everywhere, there was some cars on fire. it was just like Armageddon. Then i was bitten from behind. Thats when i woke up screaming.my birthday is 9/151975. but we just had a child this is the freaky part on 6/6/06. he came 3 months early and everything was fine with him. now lets get back to the main point. i have heard now these are just rumors. that scientist are researching the rabies virus for beneficial purposes. I am 100% sure if they come across something like zombie like traits.they will destroy it. just as we did the embryo.I am left with a few questions. why do the birthdays all end in 5’s? Could humanity withstand a resident evil like infection?
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