Wolves in Space, (and here).

Wolves, or dogs, in space.  It is hard to be sure. I am not sure why I found this so funny but I laughed. It likely reminds me of something subconscious about myself as a lot of humor works that way. What, I have no clue.

“We got that result and we just open-mouth stared at each other,” Meyer says. “This is way bigger than we thought it would be.” The study “provides compelling evidence of the profound influence that pathogens can have on the ecology and behaviour of wild animal populations”.

Physical and behavioural changes have also been found in people: testosterone and dopamine production is increased and more risks are taken.

Warm-blooded mammals can catch the parasite by eating an infected animal or ingesting forms of T. gondii shed in the faeces of infected cats. After a period of acute infection, semi-dormant cysts form in muscle and brain tissue, and persist for the rest of the host’s life. Up to one-third of humans might be chronically infected.

Parasite gives wolves what it takes to be pack leaders

This was less of a mystery. A friend sent this knowing that I am infected with the same parasite. He joked that it must make me a leader. Hardly since I can’t even keep my own life on track most of the time. In fact, in the past I have heard that Toxoplasma gondii makes men more stupid and women more intelligent. That explains a lot, maybe. There are a lot of unknowns about gondii that research has only begun to look at but it is intriguing that it may have a non minor effect on human behavior and biology. Sci Fi is replete with alien body and mind snatching parasites but it may be the ones here now that are the real worry. This book has some remarkable examples of how that might be, up to and including some of the big issues in our history.

I could say more but Don’t get me started.