Sea mucus. Yuck.
October 13, 2009 12:29 AM Subscribe
OK, this looks bad. Disgusting and really bad. Sea "Mucus" Blobs Pose Threat (video from National Geographic).
Some photos (again from National Geographic) here.
Some photos (again from National Geographic) here.
No sir that is not good.
posted by creasy boy at 12:51 AM on October 13, 2009
posted by creasy boy at 12:51 AM on October 13, 2009
In related news, neo-conservatives warn that at the rate they're breeding, these mucus blobs are set to outnumber European Christians and Muslims by 2050. That's what liberal values get you, you fucking Frenchies. The end of Western civilization.
posted by creasy boy at 1:01 AM on October 13, 2009 [4 favorites]
posted by creasy boy at 1:01 AM on October 13, 2009 [4 favorites]
"Mob hysteria sweeps one city. Before long, the nation. And then, the world!"
posted by ...possums at 1:04 AM on October 13, 2009
posted by ...possums at 1:04 AM on October 13, 2009
More than just unpleasant, the blobs harbor bacteria and viruses, including E. coli...
Unpleasant blobs filled with bacteria and viruses, including e. coli? So, hamburger patties.
posted by turgid dahlia at 1:09 AM on October 13, 2009 [4 favorites]
Unpleasant blobs filled with bacteria and viruses, including e. coli? So, hamburger patties.
posted by turgid dahlia at 1:09 AM on October 13, 2009 [4 favorites]
Even oceans get the flu.
posted by molecicco at 1:10 AM on October 13, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by molecicco at 1:10 AM on October 13, 2009 [2 favorites]
It's a gross, gross world we live in. Yuck.
posted by monkey!knife!fight! at 1:15 AM on October 13, 2009
posted by monkey!knife!fight! at 1:15 AM on October 13, 2009
Yes, but can we eat it?
posted by alexei at 1:36 AM on October 13, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by alexei at 1:36 AM on October 13, 2009 [1 favorite]
You go first, alexei.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 1:39 AM on October 13, 2009
posted by flapjax at midnite at 1:39 AM on October 13, 2009
Even oceans get the flu.
This is the first thing I thought of. I mean the mucus in our own bodies might be somewhat "disgusting", but it serves a vital purpose. At the risk of anthropomorphizing the oceans, is it so outrageous to suggest that decades of overfishing, pollution and abuse have left the Mediterranean in a sickly state and that these things are part of the natural recovery process?
posted by sophist at 2:03 AM on October 13, 2009
This is the first thing I thought of. I mean the mucus in our own bodies might be somewhat "disgusting", but it serves a vital purpose. At the risk of anthropomorphizing the oceans, is it so outrageous to suggest that decades of overfishing, pollution and abuse have left the Mediterranean in a sickly state and that these things are part of the natural recovery process?
posted by sophist at 2:03 AM on October 13, 2009
Gesundheit.
posted by qvantamon at 2:16 AM on October 13, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by qvantamon at 2:16 AM on October 13, 2009 [1 favorite]
I don't think I want to go swimming in the ocean anymore. I'll have to make due without waves, sunsets, beaches, folding chairs and all the rest. It's just too... ewwww. I think I'll just stay home and disinfect everything. A couple dozen times.
posted by Ghidorah at 2:25 AM on October 13, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Ghidorah at 2:25 AM on October 13, 2009 [1 favorite]
Sorry, Charlie, only the most fetid, putrid mucus can be called Mucus of the Sea
posted by Auden at 2:53 AM on October 13, 2009 [8 favorites]
posted by Auden at 2:53 AM on October 13, 2009 [8 favorites]
It's just the planet coughing up another fuel source. Relax, you'll be running your SUV on it in no time - and the more you drive, the more it thrives!
posted by a non e mouse at 3:12 AM on October 13, 2009
posted by a non e mouse at 3:12 AM on October 13, 2009
If I had a really big aquarium, I would totally want one of those.
posted by past at 3:22 AM on October 13, 2009
posted by past at 3:22 AM on October 13, 2009
Can we train the jellyfish swarms to eat them?
posted by adipocere at 3:23 AM on October 13, 2009 [4 favorites]
posted by adipocere at 3:23 AM on October 13, 2009 [4 favorites]
But what does it taste like?
Oh ew ew. Grossed myself out there.
posted by lucidium at 3:27 AM on October 13, 2009
Oh ew ew. Grossed myself out there.
posted by lucidium at 3:27 AM on October 13, 2009
Is this some sort of viral marketing for a Boy and his Blob? Because I really don't want to hug this thing.
posted by giraffe at 3:31 AM on October 13, 2009 [4 favorites]
posted by giraffe at 3:31 AM on October 13, 2009 [4 favorites]
The ocean didn't just enter puberty, did it? If so, I have a theory...
posted by maxwelton at 3:44 AM on October 13, 2009
posted by maxwelton at 3:44 AM on October 13, 2009
Actually this is something you find in the adriatic sea - which is a very shallow part of the Med. The video has been made in the Venice Lagoon which is a very particular spot - enclosed AND shallow - of the adriatic sea.
Having said that, I can tell you that mucillagine was there even 30 years ago when we went mussels fishing. It happens when summer gets extremely hot - the calm water, no winds and no waves creates the problem.
Underwater it looks like a gel, in fact it is almost water when you touch it.
So not all of the med is so fucked up, in fact this Sunday I went surfing and lo and behold, swarms of sardines were jumping off the water.
posted by elcapitano at 4:37 AM on October 13, 2009 [2 favorites]
Having said that, I can tell you that mucillagine was there even 30 years ago when we went mussels fishing. It happens when summer gets extremely hot - the calm water, no winds and no waves creates the problem.
Underwater it looks like a gel, in fact it is almost water when you touch it.
So not all of the med is so fucked up, in fact this Sunday I went surfing and lo and behold, swarms of sardines were jumping off the water.
posted by elcapitano at 4:37 AM on October 13, 2009 [2 favorites]
Can we train the jellyfish swarms to eat them?
Smacks. Jellyfish come in smacks.
posted by turgid dahlia at 4:54 AM on October 13, 2009 [1 favorite]
Smacks. Jellyfish come in smacks.
posted by turgid dahlia at 4:54 AM on October 13, 2009 [1 favorite]
The ocean didn't just enter puberty, did it? If so, I have a theory...
That the North Pacific Gyre is nature's cumrag?
posted by turgid dahlia at 4:55 AM on October 13, 2009
That the North Pacific Gyre is nature's cumrag?
posted by turgid dahlia at 4:55 AM on October 13, 2009
Next time I change the oil in my car I will be sure to do my part in combatting this oceanic threat by dumping the used oil down the storm drain. Youre welcome, world.
posted by ElmerFishpaw at 4:56 AM on October 13, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by ElmerFishpaw at 4:56 AM on October 13, 2009 [2 favorites]
I call BS on that "bacteria and viruses" line. I'm sure it is full of bacteria, just like everything else on the planet, and e. coli is not particularly rare or dangerous on things that you aren't planning to put in your mouth. As for viruses, there certainly could be some that prey off of the bacteria or whatever-it's-made-of, but unless what it's made of is people they're probably no harm to us. So, not outright lies, but it's surely misleading to imply these nasty blobs are slimy incubators of plague doom.
posted by luftmensch at 5:02 AM on October 13, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by luftmensch at 5:02 AM on October 13, 2009 [1 favorite]
... unless what it's made of is people...
It's people! Sea Mucus Blob is made out of PEOPLE!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:11 AM on October 13, 2009 [3 favorites]
It's people! Sea Mucus Blob is made out of PEOPLE!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:11 AM on October 13, 2009 [3 favorites]
"Marine biologist Serena Fonda Umani approaches a blob of dead and living organic matter, called a mucilage..."
Well, at least it wasn't screaming things.
posted by ignignokt at 5:20 AM on October 13, 2009
Well, at least it wasn't screaming things.
posted by ignignokt at 5:20 AM on October 13, 2009
me: so can we anticipate what effect this mucilage will have on coastal ecosystems?
scientist: i don't know.
(cue buckets of slime)
posted by Hammond Rye at 5:51 AM on October 13, 2009 [2 favorites]
scientist: i don't know.
(cue buckets of slime)
posted by Hammond Rye at 5:51 AM on October 13, 2009 [2 favorites]
Watching that video my thoughts go to the opening scene of Left 4 Dead.
BILL: Hold up! (bends down over dead body, touches slime) Never seen anything like this before.
FRANCIS: Jesus. Don't let that stop you from smearing it all over yourself.
posted by Liver at 6:15 AM on October 13, 2009
BILL: Hold up! (bends down over dead body, touches slime) Never seen anything like this before.
FRANCIS: Jesus. Don't let that stop you from smearing it all over yourself.
posted by Liver at 6:15 AM on October 13, 2009
Don't click the link don't click the link. Damn.
Don't read the thread don't, stop, don't read the threaaadd. Damn.
posted by nax at 6:52 AM on October 13, 2009
Don't read the thread don't, stop, don't read the threaaadd. Damn.
posted by nax at 6:52 AM on October 13, 2009
I see a dangerous trend here, a few years ago it was funny when people posted "Life imitates Simpsons" links. More recently we've been uneasily laughing at "Life imitates The Onion" types of stories. I just hope this isn't the beginning of a "Life imitates a Steven King story" trend.
posted by 445supermag at 7:01 AM on October 13, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by 445supermag at 7:01 AM on October 13, 2009 [2 favorites]
Cthuloogies.
posted by MrVisible at 7:03 AM on October 13, 2009 [10 favorites]
posted by MrVisible at 7:03 AM on October 13, 2009 [10 favorites]
In my household, we measure jelly by the schmere.
posted by mccarty.tim at 7:12 AM on October 13, 2009
posted by mccarty.tim at 7:12 AM on October 13, 2009
You say disgusting sea mucus, I say next lucrative commercial fishery. We'll just have to rename it for the market... let's see... how about Mediterranean White Pollock? We're golden.
posted by rusty at 8:02 AM on October 13, 2009
posted by rusty at 8:02 AM on October 13, 2009
We just need to crash a giant tanker full of Dayquil into a reef somewhere.
posted by orme at 8:02 AM on October 13, 2009
posted by orme at 8:02 AM on October 13, 2009
The seas are alive
with the sight of mucus...
posted by cleancut at 8:25 AM on October 13, 2009 [1 favorite]
with the sight of mucus...
posted by cleancut at 8:25 AM on October 13, 2009 [1 favorite]
Any relation between this stuff, and the stuff that was posted about a few months ago, found in the Arctic Ocean?
posted by Goofyy at 8:35 AM on October 13, 2009
posted by Goofyy at 8:35 AM on October 13, 2009
Oh man, is that where they went? I'm really sorry everyone, I left the kennel door open while I was getting food and when I got back it was empty.
I'll go and round them up.
Just out of curiosity, they didn't eat anyone, did they? Because they aren't supposed to be doing that yet.
posted by quin at 9:04 AM on October 13, 2009
I'll go and round them up.
Just out of curiosity, they didn't eat anyone, did they? Because they aren't supposed to be doing that yet.
posted by quin at 9:04 AM on October 13, 2009
Thank God that eccentric who wanted to manufacture the world's largest Kleenex kept the dream alive. His moment in the sun has finally arrived.
posted by CynicalKnight at 9:09 AM on October 13, 2009
posted by CynicalKnight at 9:09 AM on October 13, 2009
Happy they mention it's incredibly unsafe and then show the scuba diver swatting it with his hands releasing spores in every direction.
posted by Peter H at 9:14 AM on October 13, 2009
posted by Peter H at 9:14 AM on October 13, 2009
OK, human beings have had a choice for decades. Cod, tuna and halibut or sea shit (jellyfish, sea mucus). Short term thinking always wins. See: peak oil. Wait until it's too late. That's been our mantra. "Forget the future" is the lyric I heard just two seconds ago on the Crying Game soundtrack. Great song; lousy philosophy.
posted by kozad at 6:43 PM on October 13, 2009
posted by kozad at 6:43 PM on October 13, 2009
It's just the planet coughing up another fuel source. Relax, you'll be running your SUV on it in no time - and the more you drive, the more it thrives!
Methane clathrate.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 7:04 PM on October 13, 2009
Methane clathrate.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 7:04 PM on October 13, 2009
so this post...it's meta mucilage?
posted by cjorgensen at 8:24 AM on October 14, 2009
posted by cjorgensen at 8:24 AM on October 14, 2009
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posted by turgid dahlia at 12:37 AM on October 13, 2009 [30 favorites]