Meet the Zombie Ant Fungus That Inspired HBO's 'The Last of Us'

The zombie fungus from 'The Last Of Us' is real — but not nearly as deadly

Life cycle and characteristics of Ophiocordyceps Unilateralis - SlideServe

This is real life… not science fiction. There’s a parasitic fungus that literally hijacks the brain of an insect… It takes control of its behavior, forces it to climb to the top of a leaf, and then kills it— using the insect’s body as a launchpad to release spores and infect the next victim. Sound familiar? This is what inspired The Last of Us— but it’s not just a TV plot. It’s happening in nature right now. Fungi like Ophiocordyceps unilateralis are proof that parasites can manipulate behavior,