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Parasite Correlated With World Cup Success

Posted by kdawson on from the yeah-yeah-not-causation dept.

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."

10 of 366 comments (clear)

  1. Good News is... by ChrisK87 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Fortunately here in the States we don't have to worry about such dangerous things as world cup victories.

    1. Re:Good News is... by socz · · Score: 4, Funny

      It's not really a World Cup, it's a European-South American Cup with a couple countries from other continents invited.

      Now THAT makes sense! That's why we have the world series of baseball with only 2 countries playing!

      --
      My abilities are only limited by my imagination
    2. Re:Good News is... by Geoffrey.landis · · Score: 4, Funny

      ...That's why we have the world series of baseball with only 2 countries playing!

      You know, I've always been surprised by how often a woman from Earth wins the Miss Universe contest. You think it's rigged?

      --
      http://www.geoffreylandis.com
    3. Re:Good News is... by Brad1138 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Every World Cup tournament is preceded by World Cup qualifying matches in which every country meeting FIFA criteria (which is pretty much every country) participates. That's why it's called the World Cup.

      You obviously know to much about soccer to be American.

      --
      If you could reason with religious people, there would be no religious people
    4. Re:Good News is... by M.+Baranczak · · Score: 4, Funny

      Antarctica got robbed!

  2. Brain parasite... by nebaz · · Score: 4, Funny

    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
    1. Re:Brain parasite... by nalidog · · Score: 5, Funny

      No, but they can make you play the holophonor like a pro.

  3. Re:K-dawg, here is a feature for you! by Nethead · · Score: 5, Funny

    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.
  4. Re:K-dawg, here is a feature for you! by blair1q · · Score: 4, Funny

    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.

  5. Re:K-dawg, here is a feature for you! by imakemusic · · Score: 4, Funny

    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!