It was this curiosity, in particular, that surprised Dr Fefferman.

ECONOMIST: Epidemiology

But if players could be persuaded to accept Dr Fefferman's watchful eye (and many might welcome the idea that they were helping medical science), other research suggests that the results could be realistic.

ECONOMIST: Epidemiology

With that in mind, Dr Fefferman has talked with Blizzard's programmers and she says they are willing to entertain the idea of incorporating diseases or other risks into their virtual world in order for her to study them.

ECONOMIST: Epidemiology