New Microbe Discovered Eating Gulf Oil Spill

[Desertdog]

Anybody surprised that Earth has the ability to clean itself without the help of the puny little man.

New Microbe Discovered Eating Gulf Oil Spill
By Randolph E. Schmid

Published August 24, 2010
 Associated Press
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/08/24/new-microbe-discovered-eating-gulf-oil-spill/?test=latestnews

WASHINGTON -- A newly discovered type of oil-eating microbe is suddenly flourishing in the Gulf of Mexico.

Scientists discovered the new microbe while studying the underwater dispersion of millions of gallons of oil spilled into the Gulf following the explosion of BP's Deepwater Horizon drilling rig.

[please read the rest of the article at the Fox News site - OV]

[Tallpine]

What will happen when these microbes run out of oil 

They will be endangered and may become extinct 

We will have to dump some more oil in the Gulf to feed them 

[taurusowner]

The microbe is racist for going against what Spike Lee says.

[French G.]

Now if we can just alter the microbe's genetics so it devours Spike Lee.

[RaspberrySurprise]

Now if we can just alter the microbe's genetics so it devours Spike Lee.

Even microbes have standards

[roo_ster]

Even microbes have standards

But being microbes, they can be very, very low standards.

[charby]

I do think its cool that nature has a way of fixing man's shortcommings.

[vaskidmark]

Weren't there all sorts of reports that there were leaks from the ocean floor, with oil leaking out in amounts that made the BP spill look like bupkis?

And yet there was not a permanent sheen on the Gulf, or permanent ring of oil at the shoreline.

And did nobody wonder why?

And then someone suddenly "discovered" this "new microbe.  Sort of like Columbus discovered the North American continent.

Nothing new here, folks, except that somebody finally noticed it.

stay safe.

[Desertdog]

Weren't there all sorts of reports that there were leaks from the ocean floor, with oil leaking out in amounts that made the BP spill look like bupkis?

In the early days of Santa Barbara there was so much oil leaking from the ocean floor they finally driilled several producing wells to eliminate the ocean leakage.

[Perd Hapley]

For us Rush listeners, this is old news.  The Mahai Rushi predicted this, and was ridiculed for ignorance and heartless apathy.  A couple of weeks ago, he dug up some news stories confirming that nature was indeed dealing with the situation.

[Northwoods]

Did someone not get the memo about quoting articles?

[Desertdog]

uP Dated myself on the rules.  Will comply.

[MicroBalrog]

Anybody surprised that Earth has the ability to clean itself without the help of the puny little man.

I'm sure we could adjust the climate if we set our minds to it.

Start by building a PACER plant...

[Battle Monkey of Zardoz]

In the early days of Santa Barbara there was so much oil leaking from the ocean floor they finally driilled several producing wells to eliminate the ocean leakage.

This be true

And there are other places, in most seas and oceans. I would like the think that it drives the enviroweenies crazy n

[RevDisk]

For us Rush listeners, this is old news.  The Mahai Rushi predicted this, and was ridiculed for ignorance and heartless apathy.  A couple of weeks ago, he dug up some news stories confirming that nature was indeed dealing with the situation.

Anyone with an IQ above room temperature should know that the earth can take care of itself in the long run.  (ie, hippies don't qualify)

That said, BP is still responsible for cleaning up the mess.  If mother nature lends a hand, good.  But they're still not off the hook until cleanup is complete. 

[MicroBalrog]

Hasn't BP already contributed more money to the 'slush fund' than the cost of the cleanup?

[RevDisk]

Hasn't BP already contributed more money to the 'slush fund' than the cost of the cleanup?

No, I think that was just extortion money?

[Ned Hamford]

Anyone with an IQ above room temperature should know that the earth can take care of itself in the long run. 

Well sure... but that doesn't necessarily mean it will remain pleasant for us.

:Ned Hamford is still upset with a neighbor in Vermont unilaterally changing the drainage scheme for the neighborhood and causing a large increase in mosquitoes:

[Jamisjockey]

People forget that Oil is a natural substance.  It bubbles out of the gulf from natural vents already.  Granted, us dumping craploads of it into the gulf probably wasn't a good thing, but its honestly unsurprising that some natural creature has evolved to deal with consuming oil.

[Firethorn]

People forget that Oil is a natural substance.  It bubbles out of the gulf from natural vents already.  Granted, us dumping craploads of it into the gulf probably wasn't a good thing, but its honestly unsurprising that some natural creature has evolved to deal with consuming oil.

Indeed, and given the rate that bacteria can grow - I figure that the bacteria, given 'optimal' conditions, could easily double in mass in a week or two.  It'd be faster, but I figure 'cold water' bacteria would be a bit slower than the higher temperature ones.

We've had enough time for like 12 doublings; still plenty even if the spill was 1000x the rate of natural seepage.

[MicroBalrog]

No, I think that was just extortion money?

Does that matter?


The point is, they got hit for a sum far larger than the damage they caused. And  spent $3 billion above that on cleanup.

[sanglant]

anybody remember the nut jobs suggesting the sky would be black for months if saddam set the Iraqi oil fields ablaze?

[Ben]

In the early days of Santa Barbara there was so much oil leaking from the ocean floor they finally driilled several producing wells to eliminate the ocean leakage.

Still leaking, About 150 barrels a day. One rig and a seep tent are still around. Libe Washburn, quoted in the linked story, was a professor of mine in grad school. I still remember him talking about a paper he co-wrote with someone that they were afraid to publish because it showed that sticking rigs in the seep would reduce the pressure and the amount of oil and gas naturally seeping. Of course all the seeping oil is blamed on rigs in Federal waters many many miles away.

I dove the seeps in years gone by. Very interesting. Sheep crabs will actually seek out gas seeps and sit on top of them, apparently because it feels good.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090513130944.htm


Another guy with interesting data is Ira Liefer. He has a website called bubbleology.com.

[RevDisk]

Does that matter?


The point is, they got hit for a sum far larger than the damage they caused. And  spent $3 billion above that on cleanup.

Mind you, I'm a shareholder of BP.   I'm just pointing out, that slush fund thing was extortion from Obama to hand out to "victims" at his own discretion.  I don't think that was even remotely considered part of the cleanup.  Just flat out strong arm thuggery.

[stevelyn]

What will happen when these microbes run out of oil 

They will be endangered and may become extinct 

We will have to dump some more oil in the Gulf to feed them 

What does the oil change into after the microbes comsume it?