Hello, Wyrdo's! We're back with the latest roundup of the weird, the spooky, and the downright bizarre from around the globe. This week, we're talking about a terrifying encounter in Texas and a new kind of zombie apocalypse brewing in the caves of Ireland.
The Devil at the Door
What would you do if a figure in a red goat mask showed up at your front door at night? That's exactly what happened to a homeowner in Carrollton, North Texas, whose Ring doorbell camera captured the horrifying moment. The person was not only in a disturbing mask but was also holding a sign with a chilling message from the Book of Revelation about the end of days.
The homeowner was left shaken and scared to leave her house, and honestly, who can blame her? In the US, where people are more than willing to take matters into their own hands, this kind of prank is incredibly dangerous. We saw the social media reaction, and a lot of people were not amused, suggesting they would have taken extreme measures. It's a sobering reminder that a "prank" in one context can be a legitimate threat in another.
Authorities are now monitoring the situation, but no crime has been reported. Still, it's a terrifying scenario that shows just how scary the world can be.
The Rise of the Zombie Spiders
From human-induced horror to a natural one, we turn our attention to the caves of Ireland. Prepare for a story that sounds like it came straight out of a horror movie, or a certain video game we know.
Scientists have discovered a new species of fungus, named Gibellula attenboroughi after the legend himself, Sir David Attenborough. And what does this fungus do? It infects spiders and turns them into zombies.
That's right. The fungus takes control of the spider's brain using dopamine, the brain's "happy chemical." Instead of staying hidden, the infected spider is compelled to leave its web and climb to an exposed spot on a cave wall or ceiling. Once it reaches its final resting place, the fungus bursts out of the spider's body in a series of grotesque tendrils, ready to release its spores and infect more spiders. It's an eerie, real-life parallel to the fungal zombies of The Last of Us.
It's a bizarre and fascinating look into the natural world, but we'll admit, seeing the pictures gives us the heebie-jeebies. If you're brave enough, you can look up the photos online—but don't say we didn't warn you!
That's it for this week's Weird News. We'll be back soon with more of the strange and unexplained.
Stay Wyrd.