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Parasite Correlated With World Cup Success
mahiskali writes "A parasite commonly found in cats, Toxoplasma gondii, has an unnerving relation to World Cup victories by country. (This parasite was discussed here twice in 2006.) Toxo can be found in almost every type of mammal, from rats to humans. The overall goal of the parasite is to end up in a feline stomach, which is the only place it can reproduce. In other mammals, humans for example, the parasite heads for the brain. It is estimated that nearly 1/3 of the human population has a latent Toxo infection, with individual countries having infection rates varying from 6% (Korea) to 92% (Ghana). Countries with greater incidence of this parasitic infection in their populations tend to win more World Cups than those without. The article, written by a Stanford University neuroscientist, goes on to try out various rationales for such a correlation, ranging from increased testosterone to increased dissent of authority — all symptoms of a Toxo infection. Now we just need to find a parasite that causes an inability to referee properly, and we'll have this whole World Cup business all sorted out."
Fortunately here in the States we don't have to worry about such dangerous things as world cup victories.
Do any of these parasites modify your voice timbre and give you glowing eyes and create in you a desire to build healing sarcophagi?
Rhymes that keep their secrets will unfold behind the clouds.There upon the rainbow is the answer to a neverending story
Too Late! KDawson has the worms eating at his brain....
Holland has an infection rate of "eventually 80%" (source: http://www.nvkc.nl/tijdschrift/content/1999/nr%201/p65/1999-1-p65.pdf ), which does eerily correlate with our soon-to-be world cup win. (Disclaimer: there are orange crowds singing outside after "our" win to Uruguay, and to Germany I would like to say, "Schade Deutschland, alles ist vorbei!" ;-)
We need a "+1 Mean" moderation option.
This meme isn't fashionable anymore. You were supposed to post an XKCD comic instead.
"I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
"Schade Deutschland, alles ist vorbei!"
Jeez man, do you kiss your mother with that mouth?
Nice reference. I haven't felt that good since Archie Gemmel scored against Holland in 1978.
I don't believe in time. It's a grand conspiracy designed to sell watches.
Yeah ... this kind of 'shorten your shotgun barrel til you hit something' research bugs me.
This is so easily tested, too. Pick a loser country with a relatively small population, and start infecting their water supplies with toxo. Watch them start to win year after year. Case proved.
"Who is the Journal of Quantum Physics going to believe?" --Stephen Hawking
Damn you Dawson!
I had the 48" pen plotter selected as my default printer.
I'll be sending you a wall poster of the article with my bill.
-- I have a private email server in my basement.
I had the 3D printer set up to make a solid gold PS3 controller. Now I have a solid gold Slate article. Oh yes, the bill will be forthcoming.
Careful what you wish for. All that rat wanted was a little pussy...
Oh, I see now... some of you needed to find an excuse for not... winning the World Cup. Riiiight...
Chances of infection via cats are really minuscule; we do big deal of it because when it happens at the wrong time to a wrong person (pregnant woman; think of the children!) the results catch attention.
Overall, cats most likely should be thanked by great contribution to our civilization - for a few thousand years they guard our supplies.
BTW, up to a certain point (not exceeding certain period of smoking / quiting quickly enough - basically mid-20's) the rates of illnesses associated with smoking are practically identical for non)never)-smokers and (ex)smokers.
This isn't clear to me - are you saying we should, or shouldn't be worried about sharing a joint with a cat?
Even more improbable but funnier.
Let me see if I can top it.
Damn you to hell Dawson!
I was about to download the CAD files to our production robots and clicked on your link.
Please accept the delivery of your 10,000 Ford Slate "automobiles". Please see the finance manager to arrange payment.
-- I have a private email server in my basement.
How about raw cats?
This is the sig that says NI (again)
And if you insist on using American English on all occasions, try entering a British bar and telling the girl next to you that you like her pants.
The Unicode standard is over 20 years old. Why does Slashdot not support it?
I am a neuroscientist working on a direct connection from internet to brain. I am now slate.com as are 300 of my test subjects. We will report future articles directly to Slashdot with the power of our minds. You may pay via direct debit or with any major credit card.
Brain surgery - it's not rocket science!