Mystery goo baffles Newfoundland as origins remain elusive
On the beaches of Newfoundland, a strange substance of unknown origin has appeared. The white goo is said to resemble poorly kneaded bread dough and emit an oily smell. However, according to researchers, the substance does not contain biological material.
Residents of Newfoundland are reporting with concern the appearance of a mysterious white goo on local beaches. The scale of the phenomenon has prompted Canadian authorities to launch an investigation aimed at explaining the unusual discovery.
The entire issue is being reported by the BBC, which spoke to a local ecologist, Stan Tobin, who is involved in the matter. He describes the strange substance as something resembling failed bread dough that emits a smell similar to vegetable oil.
The first reports of the white goo began arriving at local authorities at the start of September, but despite the passage of time, its origin has not been definitively determined. The portions of the substance found on the beaches are in the form of balls and typically have a diameter of about 15 centimetres.
Local residents speculated that it could be mould or fungus, palm oil, wax, or even a valuable and sought-after substance – ambergris, which is a secretion from the sperm whale's digestive tract, prized by perfume makers.
The possibility of it being a raw ingredient for a regional delicacy called toutons, which is dough fried in pork fat, was also considered. However, this assumption was not confirmed.
The matter is being handled by representatives of Environment and Climate Change Canada – the Canadian government department responsible for climate and environmental policy. According to representatives of this institution, the white goo is not a petroleum-based hydrocarbon, oil-based grease, or biofuel.
It was also ruled out that the find is some form of marine sponge, and more precise studies have determined that it does not contain biological material. Commenting on the whole issue and the authorities' lack of explanation about what the mysterious substance is, Stan Tobin stated: "Somebody or somebodies know where this came from and how it got there. And knows well it's not supposed to be here."
