Could 'The Last of Us' Be a Real-World Nightmare?

Sometimes life imitates art a little too closely. We examine the science behind the HBO hit. [CNET]( Insider [January 17, 2023](#?ftag=CAD-04-10aac3a&utm_email=02015bee48352e908c609176b0b8e62f74e1d7c914618055c65562e7c03efb52&utm_campaign_id=5950700&utm_email_id=393553e63022c910d4137d1bf88cf7b42ad177675e38cf0ce85cf4778ebae608&utm_newsletter_id=71558&medium=email&source=iterable) [Pandemic TV]( I’ve never been a fan of the horror genre. I’m a fraidy-cat and I’ve come to accept that fact. It’s not the gore or even the jump scares that are so unsettling. It’s that the horror is rooted in reality. It’s the idea that the atrocity unfolding on-screen could become a very real-world possibility. That’s how I feel about HBO’s new series [The Last of Us](. Personally, I have no desire to experience another pandemic (fictional or not), but this show does prompt the question: Is a fungal pandemic likely? Jackson Ryan had the same inquiries and[took a close look at the science]( see what a Cordyceps apocalypse might look like in reality. If the article is as frightening to you as it is to me, you can certainly find some lighter content below, like[these creative reinventions]( a classic painting. You can find all of this, and the latest news and reviews, in today’s newsletter. -- Macy Meyer, associate editor INSIDER ESSENTIALS display:%20block;%20max-width:%20116px;%20%20max-height:%2015px; display:%20block;%20max-width:%2069px;%20%20max-height:%2015px; ['The Last of Us': Could a Fungal Pandemic Really Happen?]( ['The Last of Us': Could a Fungal Pandemic Really Happen?]( [The horrors of the HBO hit are based on real-world nightmares.]( [See this]( [It Might Be Time to Say Goodbye to Apple's Cheapest iPhone]( [It Might Be Time to Say Goodbye to Apple's Cheapest iPhone]( [See this]( [Why You Should Be Using the New iPhone Safety Check Feature]( [Why You Should Be Using the New iPhone Safety Check Feature]( [See this]( [Apple Launches New M2 Pro and M2 Max Chips]( [Apple Launches New M2 Pro and M2 Max Chips]( [See this]( [This Next-Generation Display Tech Is Going to Change the World]( [This Next-Generation Display Tech Is Going to Change the World]( [See this]( [How Duolingo Turned Me Into a Monster]( [How Duolingo Turned Me Into a Monster]( [See this]( [Scientists Use Powerful, Car-Size Laser to Divert Lightning Strikes]( [Scientists Use Powerful, Car-Size Laser to Divert Lightning Strikes]( [See this]( [Museum Asks Public to Reinvent a Classic Painting, With Wild Results]( [Museum Asks Public to Reinvent a Classic Painting, With Wild Results]( [See this]( CNET RECOMMENDS [Samsung M8 4K Smart Monitor Is at an All-Time Low of $400]( Upgrade your home office setup and run work and entertainment apps without a PC. [Save 30% on the Gadget Wine Snobs Are Obsessed With]( Coravin's preservation system allows you to taste wine without uncorking the bottle. [Fitbit Charge 5 Is Back to Its Lowest Price Ever]( On sale for $100, this fitness tracker could help you reach your wellness goals for 2023. display:%20block;%20max-width:%20116px;%20%20max-height:%2015px; display:%20block;%20max-width:%2019px;%20%20max-height:%2015px; Trouble viewing this email? [View online](. This newsletter is a service of [CNET.com](. To update your account, please visit our [Newsletter subscription center.]( [Unsubscribe]( | [Terms of Use]( | [Privacy]( © 2023 CNET, A Red Ventures company. All rights reserved. CNET [235 Second Street San Francisco, CA 94105 U.S.A.](#)