The science of vampires: UNCW professor explores the biological roots of mythical creatures

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — We’ve all heard legends about creatures that lurk in cover of darkness, crave blood, and steer clear of garlic, but where does it come from?

Dr. Michaela Howells worked to answer that question on Wednesday evening in Randall Library.

In partnership with the Bellamy Mansion and the UNCW Anthropology club, Howells gave a lecture on the science behind vampire folklore.

Through the lens of biological anthropology, Howells analyzed the legends of vampires in different cultures and how the happenings could be explained.

She touched on four different topics including vicious biting, wasting away, skin peeling in the sun, and disappearing babies. Each of these symptoms of vampirism can be explained through various diseases and medical phenomena; like rabies, tuberculosis, and pregnancy loss.

Howells says the lore of vampirism came from a place of people attempting to understand illness in a time before modern medicine.

“It’s this captivation that we see, again, not just contemporarily, but throughout time,” Howells said. “Part of that is what we are interested in as biological anthropologists, this idea of looking at biology and culture and how do we use the culture to understand our bodies and understand what’s happening to our bodies.”

As a scientist, Howells says it’s exciting to talk about topics not typically discussed in a classroom. Additionally, she enjoys connecting with people through biology and culture.

The UNCW Theatre Department is presenting a production of “Dracula.” For more information about the show and how to get tickets, visit here.