See other Science/Tech Articles
Title: Vampires a Mathematical Impossibility, Scientists Say
Source:
LiveScience
URL Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20061 ... icalimpossibilityscientistsays
Published: Oct 27, 2006
Author: Sara Goudarzi
Post Date: 2006-10-27 01:01:11 by Morgana le Fay
Keywords: None
Views: 251
Comments: 12
A researcher has come up with some simple math that sucks the life out of the vampire myth, proving that these highly popular creatures can't exist. ADVERTISEMENT University of Central Florida physics professor Costas Efthimiou's work debunks pseudoscientific ideas, such as vampires and zombies, in an attempt to enhance public literacy. Not only does the public believe in such topics, but the percentages are at dangerously high level, Efthimiou told LiveScience. Legend has it that vampires feed on human blood and once bitten a person turns into a vampire and starts feasting on the blood of others. Efthimiou's debunking logic: On Jan 1, 1600, the human population was 536,870,911. If the first vampire came into existence that day and bit one person a month, there would have been two vampires by Feb. 1, 1600. A month later there would have been four, and so on. In just two-and-a-half years the original human population would all have become vampires with nobody left to feed on. If mortality rates were taken into consideration, the population would disappear much faster. Even an unrealistically high reproduction rate couldn't counteract this effect. "In the long run, humans cannot survive under these conditions, even if our population were doubling each month," Efthimiou said. "And doubling is clearly way beyond the human capacity of reproduction." So whatever you think you see prowling around on Oct. 31, it most certainly won't turn you into a vampire.
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: Morgana le Fay (#0)
That sucks the blood right out of that myth. This bites.
Did the esteemed professor consider credit default swaps?
Fortunately there's a lot of in-fighting among vampires.
Message for students: Math is actually useful. LOL>
#2. To: Morgana le Fay (#0)
Buy Flantasy Flan™
#3. To: Morgana le Fay (#0)
If the first vampire came into existence that day and bit one person a month, there would have been two vampires by Feb. 1, 1600. A month later there would have been four, and so on. In just two-and-a-half years the original human population would all have become vampires with nobody left to feed on.
Buy Flantasy Flan™
#4. To: Morgana le Fay (#0)
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
#5. To: IndieTX (#4) (Edited)
#6. To: Ferret Mike (#5)
"Cheetah!!! Ungouwa!!"
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
#7. To: Morgana le Fay (#0)
No, I believe legend has it that people bitten by *werewolves* automatically become werewolves, if they survive. Vampires have to take some extra steps in order to create new vamps. Or so the story goes. And Efthimiou is providing the lamest sort of reasoning here, assuming a standard rate of reproduction (12 generations a year), without factoring in deaths due to, uh, wooden stakes and crucifixes, or whatever. By that reasoning, the common green frog wouldn't exist, since it creates hundreds of tadpoles each spring, and in the last 400 years would have grown to such numbers that it consumed all other life on earth.
Legend has it that vampires feed on human blood and once bitten a person turns into a vampire and starts feasting on the blood of others.
If you're not pissed off, you're just not paying attention.
#8. To: IndieTX (#4)
Not the way this guy uses it.
Message for students: Math is actually useful. LOL>
If you're not pissed off, you're just not paying attention.
#9. To: Ferret Mike (#5)
Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. Go, Primates!
#10. To: Morgana le Fay (#0)
Vampires have considered this much and think they have found a solution with stem cell research and sucking the life essence from embyros.
#11. To: Morgana le Fay (#0)
LeStat says this guy never heard about the cull.
#12. To: Indrid Cold (#8)
Not the way this guy uses it. Yeah I know..just being tongue in cheek.
Message for students: Math is actually useful. LOL>
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest