Weird
“slime” baffles nature boffins
RSPB investigates appearance of strange
“jelly-like” substance at its Ham Wall Nature reserve in
Somerset
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNUJKMi8A5DZxoxdIi_HSfTuAKLcM1Zqlf-W3YB-3K6uUgwbKo09-T_R6RCyxdMaMewU2A7OybjCrWtN8T7mod3rJi7lSIlScu6oYqGSpY8yBIhzV3EoRrRbSSOaPKr43ZV3dAMQ/s320/Star+Jelly+from+Ham+Wall.jpg)
Steve Hughes, RSPB Site manager at Ham
Wall said; “This past week we’ve been finding piles of this translucent jelly
dotted around the reserve. Always on grass banks away from the water’s edge.
They are usually about 10cms in diameter. We’ve asked experts what it might be,
but as yet no one is really sure. Whatever it is – it’s very
weird”.
Tony Whitehead, RSPB spokesperson for
the south west said; “Although we don’t know what it actually is, similar
substances have described previously. In records dating back to the
14th Century it’s known variously as star jelly, astral jelly or
astromyxin. In folklore it is said to be deposited in the wake of meteor
showers.”
Scientific speculation as to the
nature of the “jelly” is varied. One of the more favoured explanations is that
it is a form of cyanobacteria called Nostoc. Some however suggest that it is the
remains of the regurgitated innards of amphibians such as frogs and toads and/or
their spawn. Alternatively it may be related to the intriguingly named crystal
brain fungus (Exidia nucleate).
Mr Whitehead added; “It’s great that
in this day and age that there are still mysteries out there. We’ve read a few
articles now – and much speculation. One suggested it was neither animal nor
plant, and another that it didn’t contain DNA, although it does give the
appearance of something “living”!
“Our reserve team will be looking out
for the slime over the next few days, but if anyone can offer any explanations
we’d be glad to hear.”
Naturally, anyone who comes across the
mystery slime on the nature reserve is asked not to touch, and simply let site
staff know.
1 comment:
It probably has something to do with the evil agenda of the secret goverment. And the Reptilians. And the Bilderbergers.
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