I found this rather unusual article via the BBC website. It starts with the question:
What is this strange jelly people are finding on grassland throughout Scotland?
What is this strange jelly people are finding on grassland throughout Scotland?
A few tests have been done on the jelly like substance but nothing conclusive has come to light yet. Judging by the comments it seems like the jelly is not just confined to Scotland.
Commenters have come up with a variety of theories and suggestions, some are below:
To try to solve the mystery, Out of Doors has asked some scientists to examine a 'jelly' sample.The most common suggestion is that it is immature frog spawn, which has been discarded after the frog has fallen prey to a Heron.
Theories so far: Hans Sluiman, an algae expert at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, told Out of Doors listeners he is convinced the gel itself is not a plant or animal.
Dr Andy Taylor studies fungi at the Macaulay Institute in Aberdeen. He says there are fungus filaments in the slime but agrees with Hans that they're growing in the gloop rather than creating it.
DNA tests: Andy's team at the Macaulay Institute ran DNA tests on a sample, but the results were inconclusive - the sample was contaminated.
Historical references: Hans Sluiman's academic colleagues unearthed a 1926 reference in the journal Nature to 'the rot of the stars'. It backs the theory that birds of some species are eating frogs or toads and regurgitating the ovaries, perhaps due to toxins.
Will the mystery be solved? Out of Doors listener Mike Snook discovered another sample of the substance at Aberlady in late December, and it has been delivered to the Macaulay Institute for further DNA testing. Dr Taylor says he has hopes for a result early in the new year.
Commenters have come up with a variety of theories and suggestions, some are below:
- Jelly Fungus
- Pwdre Ser or Star Jelly
- Some sort of Algae
- Silica from meteorites
- Slime Fungus
- Alien droppings
- UFO droppings of alien poo
- Slime trail left by Eels
- Blue green algae
- Alien snack
- Rock snot
- Quatermass experiment
- It comes from slugs
- Stag's semen
- It's gel from a diaper (nappy)
- Animal snot
- Fairies with flu...
I shall leave you with this question...
What do you think?
What do you think?
9 comments:
Hmm I think that list has covered all the angles!
It is the Phantom Gelatine Spreader who's motives cannot be grasped despite his transparent nature... a slippery cusomer.
Looks like something to stick your wallpaper up with.
Jams - It certainly does.
Aileni - I hope it isn't out to get me...
Angus - I am certain it would be good for that!
Obviously frogspawn and considering that our frog population is rapidly dwindling I'm glad to see its still about. When I was a child there seemed to be frogs everywhere but when I go back to my old haunts they seem devoid of life sadly. The strange artefacts left about the countryside by the rich menagerie used to fire my young imagination with tales of fairies, pixies and goblins.
I read that in the Highlands some think that otters are eating some kind of fish and the oil in it is undigestible so they regurgitate it.
They must be eating quite an amount for all this!
Wolfie - Yes I am inclined to agree with the Heron theory. It looks like frog spawn to me too.
Linda - Yes it would have to be a pretty big fish!!!
Alien faeces is probably the most accurate description.
James - That would certainly get a few google hits!
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