zombies

Played a lot of Zubo lately? Logging in tons of time with Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero? Chances are, probably not. But as a recent spate of under-the-radar PC and video game gems are quick to remind, sometimes the most compelling titles aren't the ones splashed all over your TV or local GameStop.

For example: PC outing Plants vs. Zombies, which hardly seems an obvious choice for strategy fans. But the downloadable epic -- demanding you use sunflowers, cherries and potatoes to keep shambling cadavers from invading your garden -- doesn't just boast a great sense of personality and attractive hand-drawn visuals. It's also incredibly deep, and one of the simplest to learn, yet hardest to master tactical combat challenges we've ever encountered.

Of the many tools available to public health officials and epidemiologists trying to understand and prevent the spread of global pandemics, one valuable resources has been ignored, until now: zombie movies.

Also in today's links: valuable measures countries take to be clean, worthless tests for predicting diseases.