4 ms·

The authors of the paper mention the unlikeliness of a direct application of the models to zombie outbreaks, but go on to elaborate on other uses of the model.

The authors of the paper mention the unlikeliness of a direct application of the models to zombie outbreaks, but go on to elaborate on other uses of the model. From the actual paper: The key difference between the models presented here and other models of infectious disease is that the dead can come back to life. Clearly, this is an unlikely scenario if taken literally, but possible real-life applications may include allegiance to political parties, or diseases with a dormant infection. This is, perhaps unsurprisingly, the first mathematical analysis of an outbreak of zombie infection. While the scenarios considered are obviously not realistic, it is nevertheless instructive to develop mathematical models for an unusual outbreak. This demonstrates the flexibility of mathematical modelling and shows how modelling can respond to a wide variety of challenges in ‘biology’.

jacquesm 17y ago
So, wouldn't it be more practical to work on a model for something that has real life applications instead ? And I don't get the "allegiance to political parties" thing, unless this means that we should interpret those with certain political affiliations as zombies. It's a tempting connection but I don't think it will hold.
- bootload 17y ago
  "... So, wouldn't it be more practical to work on a model for something that has real life applications instead ? ..." What makes you think theoretical research into imaginary scenarios isn't needed? Back in May this year I would have loved to have read this paper and tried it out ~ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/3517984501/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/3517984501/ #melbourne #zombie #shuffle