by Research ship Blue Heron drags the large lakes and collects data from the water. However, the recent discovery of the floating laboratory came from an unexpected place: its own helm.
While the crew was docked in September after a long cruise in the lakes and superior, the crew noticed a black, zack -like substance sitting out of the rowing shaft, the mechanism that enables the 87 feet long (almost 27 meter long) boat to change the direction of direction. Doug Ricketts, Marine Superintendent and Senior Research Associate at the Large Lakes Observatory at the University of Minnesota Duluth, brought a substance to the scientists of the observatory for testing.
The scientists were surprised that the material was swarming with life forms, some of which were unknown microorganisms. According to an announcement by the university, the mysterious substance, which was now informally referred to “Shipgoo001”, had apparently thrived in the oxygen -free environment of the rudderiness.
“There is no reason to expect that living organisms are in this part of the ship,” said Ricketts, referring to the closed rowing shaft housing. “This specific piece of a ship doesn’t really move. It is not exposed to the rest of the world.”
The crew noticed the strange quality after ending a cruise to study algae flowers in the lakes Erie and Superior (above). – Brian Peterson/Star Tribune/Getty Images
If more GOO is found, the goal will be to collect it without disturbing its oxygen -free environment, said leading researcher Cody Sheik, a microbial ecologist at Large Lakes Observatory. A more careful examination could lead to a further discovery of new types of microbes, he added.
“One of the things that enjoy it is that it was very unexpected.” I wonder: What else do we miss if we don’t go out and just look at something? “
Study mysterious goosebumps
While some of the DNA extracted from the black geese come from previously unknown microorganisms, another genetic material was observed worldwide. When researchers searched global databases, they found that some DNA with microbes from a taron substance in the Mediterranean, a sediment in Calgary, Alberta, and other samples from the coast of California were related to Germany.
“It is a way everywhere on the board of directors in what kind of environments are these things found,” said Sheik. “I think we will get a better idea of what these organisms are able to think about generally about the other environments in which they are.”
Scientists discovered that the material was full of life forms, including some unknown microorganisms. – Cody Sheik
The researchers still have many unanswered questions about the strange material, including the way it came on the ship and whether it is able to issue biocorrosion – to eat or worsen the steel of the ship. Since the substance was in its own sealed environment, a complex food network should be able to thrive itself and maintain itself.
“(Biocorrosion) is one of the things that we have to worry about in oil pipelines and all of these other really important infrastructure locations. And so they know that some of these ships, especially those that are very durable here.
The researchers hope to answer these questions in an upcoming research paper, which also includes the complete genomes of Goo’s microorganisms so that other scientists can build on their work, added Sheik.
Depending on what the researchers find, the material could have practical applications. According to the University, methane-producing organisms in the substance could have potential use in biofuel production. At the moment, researchers are looking for more substance in the ship and on other ships so that they can collect additional samples and carry out further tests.
The origin of the GOO
Because there are so many microbial species in the world – possibly up to 1 trillion – it is not particularly surprising that finding a new one is not particularly surprising, said Jeffrey Marlow, assistant professor of biology at Boston University. “It’s just about where they are found and what their genomic history or metabolic capacity is – that often makes a new species particularly exciting,” he added in an e -mail.
In order to determine the origin of the substance, Sheik and his team put together a history of the ship, since the former fishing boat was bought by the University of Minnesota Duluth almost three decades ago. While the rudder of the ship is not to be lubricated with something other than water, it is possible that the previous owners of this area and these organisms have deaf for years. In addition, the Goo was not present during the last inspection of the ship in November 2021.
The substance was thrived in the oxygen -free surroundings of the rudderiness of the Blue Heron. – University of Minnesota Duluth
Marlow, who was not involved in the discovery, put up the hypothesis that the Ooze had ended up in the rowing shaft by capturing a ride with marine snow, lumps of dead organic matter that sinks through the water column and oxygen-free pockets.
Sheik plans to explore the origin of the geese and found that there are many scenarios to take into account, including the question of whether the substance in the rowing wave has primarily caught or somehow a journey on the boat.
“One of the coolest parts of this story is the fact that the sample primarily made it to the microbiologists – she speaks to a microbiologically educated culture in which several people had awareness and curiosity to ask what could live in an otherwise unpleasant ooze,” said Marlow. “You wonder what other fascinating microbes could live in the most unexpected places around us.”
Tayioli is a freelance journalist in New York.
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