"Test Your Survival Skills in Gizmodo's Zombie Apocalypse Puzzle"

Gizmodo Monday Puzzle is back with a Halloween-themed challenge. In Puzzle #17, you are in charge of a stronghold during a zombie apocalypse and need to identify a poisoned barrel of water among 1,000 barrels. The poisoned water is indistinguishable from the rest, but drinking it will cause death at midnight. The question is, what is the fewest number of zombies you'll need to capture and poison to find the bad barrel by tomorrow? A bonus puzzle, Puzzle #17b, presents a similar scenario with 2,000 barrels and two days to run tests. The focus is not on the number of zombies needed, but rather how to use them effectively. The solutions will be provided in the next puzzle update.