Ace of Spades HQ

August 24, 2010

Previously unknown microbe chowing down on deep/cold oil plume
— Purple Avenger

Just when all the talking heads, politicians, and eco-scientists think they got their shit wire tight, along comes some unknown little critter who tosses a monkeywrench into their plans.

...Here, we report that the dispersed hydrocarbon plume stimulated deep-sea indigenous {gamma}-proteobacteria that are closely related to known petroleum-degraders. Hydrocarbon-degrading genes coincided with the concentration of various oil contaminants. Changes in hydrocarbon composition with distance from the source and incubation experiments with environmental isolates demonstrate faster-than-expected hydrocarbon biodegradation rates at 5Â°C. Based on these results, the potential exists for intrinsic bioremediation of the oil plume in the deep-water column without substantial oxygen drawdown.

Remember all the hooey about oxygen depletion gonna kill off everything? Well OK, that was last month. The new reality is it ain't gonna happen that way.

Of course nature oozes oil out of the seabed all the time, and it only stands to reason some critter would have evolved over time that would take advantage of that food source. We were just never looking for them, and they just did their work for millions of years without a care in the world.

Posted by: Purple Avenger at 12:05 PM | Comments (274)
Post contains 201 words, total size 2 kb.

1 Damn. Nature cleaning up after itself. Who'da thunk it?

Posted by: Laura Castellano at August 24, 2010 12:07 PM (fuw6p)

2 Has Obama taken credit for this new microbe yet?

Posted by: nevergiveup at August 24, 2010 12:07 PM (0GFWk)

3 Ok, nature cleaning up after us. Still, we are part of nature, so my original comment holds.

Posted by: Laura Castellano at August 24, 2010 12:07 PM (fuw6p)

4 Heh, he's busy golfing and can't be bothered at the moment.

Posted by: Laura Castellano at August 24, 2010 12:08 PM (fuw6p)

5 You're welcome.

Posted by: Bio-bama at August 24, 2010 12:08 PM (FcR7P)

Posted by Purple Avenger at 04:05 PM New Comments Thingy It's about time we received some well-deserved thanks

Posted by: a critter that evolved and loves to feast on oil at August 24, 2010 12:10 PM (YVZlY)

7 It's like the Earth is a large, complex system about whose workings we really don't know much about in the grand scheme of things.

Still, better to regulate away prosperity because we're sure what the temperature will be like in a few hundred years.

Posted by: DrewM. at August 24, 2010 12:10 PM (X/Lqh)

8 But ...... MAN MADE DISASTER!!!!!!

Posted by: Sponge at August 24, 2010 12:10 PM (UK9cE)

9 Almost as if when left to itself, the Earth has some sort of self-regulating ability far beyond mortal ken.

Posted by: Truman North at August 24, 2010 12:11 PM (e8YaH)

The EPA will shortly announce its program to eradicate this pesky bug.

How dare it interfere with the progressive agenda.

Posted by: gebrauchshund at August 24, 2010 12:11 PM (ADeN1)

11 Hey, we were just working another "crisis" for all it was worth. It's how we roll.

Posted by: The Left at August 24, 2010 12:11 PM (554T5)

12 A Nobel Prize for Science is going to look pretty sweet!

Posted by: Bio-Bama (not Bi-Obama. That's a vicious rumor) at August 24, 2010 12:11 PM (FcR7P)

13 I wonder how much coverage this will get in the MFM.

Okay, I really don't wonder at all. Anyway, good. It doesn't absolve BP from being (allegedly) careless but at least the mess won't be as bad as was thought.

Posted by: cranky-d at August 24, 2010 12:13 PM (4zHZR)

14 Mmm. Cold oil plume.

Posted by: Previously unknown microbe at August 24, 2010 12:13 PM (xmEXV)

15
Previously unknown microbe tea party chowing down on deep/cold oil Federal Government plume.

In a future not far away

Posted by: Atomic Roach at August 24, 2010 12:13 PM (rMMMP)

16
We make 'em outta stem cells. No, really.

-The Scientists

Posted by: Dang at August 24, 2010 12:13 PM (Chg7a)

17 self healing earth, whoda thunk it.

Posted by: trailortrash at August 24, 2010 12:14 PM (zB1JW)

18 It's about time we received some well-deserved thanks

Posted by: a critter that evolved and loves to feast on oil

So you admit that you are attacking something that's black? You can't do that unless you're a Democrat in a S.C. restaurant.

Racist

Posted by: Blue Hen at August 24, 2010 12:14 PM (R2fpr)

19 The Chakra has been released!

Posted by: Al Gore at August 24, 2010 12:15 PM (GwPRU)

20 Another piece of the 95% of the universe we can't find shows up.

Let's project those global temps two centuries from now again. To within a tenth of a degree.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at August 24, 2010 12:15 PM (NvFZs)

21

Microbes? Microbes, you say? Deadly microbes? That does it. I'm extending the drilling moratorium indefinitely.

Never let it be said that I can't deal decisively with a crisis!

Posted by: President Toonces at August 24, 2010 12:15 PM (554T5)

22 Suck my dick NOW you oily, squirmy BITCH!!!! DO IT, SLAVE!!! DO IT!!! [cracks whip] And no safe word this time.

Posted by: petroleum-degrading proteobacteria at August 24, 2010 12:15 PM (xmEXV)

I'm sure that Barry is going to lift that ban on off-shore drilling right now. Well not right now, after his vacation is over and then once he rests up from vacationing and perhaps after a round or two of golf.

Posted by: TheQuietMan at August 24, 2010 12:16 PM (1Jaio)

24 I hope these bacteria got their taxes in order. Ogabe isn't going to tolerate this embarrassment without giving them a full rectal exam.

Posted by: Purple Avenger at August 24, 2010 12:16 PM (3ZDkU)

25
Any day now, all these previously unknown microbes are going to have to shit. And that will be one hell of a news day, boys.

Posted by: That grissly old reporter with a wet spot down there by his crotch at August 24, 2010 12:17 PM (Chg7a)

26 Sorry, everyone. I thought this was the Biden thread.

Posted by: petroleum-degrading proteobacteria at August 24, 2010 12:18 PM (xmEXV)

27
Does Brad Pitt want to give them the death penalty for butting in?

Posted by: Dang Straights at August 24, 2010 12:19 PM (fx8sm)

28 These microbes were made by White House scientists using embryonic stem cells and fresh vegetables from Michelle's Garden.

Posted by: CNN at August 24, 2010 12:19 PM (Nw/hR)

29 I *told* you that Gamera would take care of this but did anyone listen to me noooooooooo.

Posted by: alexthechick at August 24, 2010 12:19 PM (eRjGt)

30
"Oh, you're gonna eat me, you fucking previously unknown microbe. But first you will BLOW ME!"

Posted by: That oil spill everyone's been talking about at August 24, 2010 12:19 PM (Chg7a)

31

Microbes lied, oil died.

Posted by: A leftard at August 24, 2010 12:19 PM (554T5)

32
Microbes. How do the f'n work?

Posted by: Insane Scientist Posse at August 24, 2010 12:19 PM (rMMMP)

wasn't there a horror movie that was based on the same principle.

I think it was called Phantoms or something.

it was about this extremely old organism that was essentially oil, but it slumber for long periods of time and awaken to eat an entire village, or town, and the killed it using microbes that ate oil.

i recall it being a decent B movie.

Posted by: Ben at August 24, 2010 12:21 PM (wuv1c)

34 I wonder if this means there's a microbe evolved to subsist off stupid?

If so, I know a few places to look for it...

Posted by: DarkLordOfTheIntarWebs at August 24, 2010 12:22 PM (IkEhE)

35 The ObamaFungus destroys everything in its path

Posted by: ingenus at August 24, 2010 12:22 PM (+sBB4)

We need to patent those microbes--imagine how many acne-ridden adolescents could benefit.

Upside: no more embarassing pimple outbreaks

Downside: you could turn into the Cloverfield monster

Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at August 24, 2010 12:22 PM (8lCJT)

37
28 These microbes were made by White House scientists using embryonic stem cells and fresh vegetables from Michelle's Garden. Posted by: CNN

Scooped you rickety old ass way up there at #16. Fossil.

Posted by: The Scientists at August 24, 2010 12:22 PM (Chg7a)

i just looked it up. It was called "Phantoms".

i knew i remembered it vaguely.

Posted by: Ben at August 24, 2010 12:23 PM (wuv1c)

39 Best of all, that oil is 100% organic!!

Posted by: logprof at August 24, 2010 12:23 PM (BP6Z1)

40 They are called HEMI's I've known about them for quite some time.

Posted by: robtr at August 24, 2010 12:23 PM (fwSHf)

41 Phantoms was a pretty good Dean Koontz book. Two and a half oil derricks.

Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at August 24, 2010 12:24 PM (8lCJT)

42 A spokescell for the oil-eating microbes released this statement to CNN: "More! Now! Or we come ashore and feast!"

Posted by: CNN at August 24, 2010 12:24 PM (Nw/hR)

43
"These previously unknown microbes are clean and articulate."

Posted by: Joe Biden at August 24, 2010 12:24 PM (Chg7a)

44 33wasn't there a horror movie that was based on the same principle.

I think it was called Phantoms or something.

Right you are. It was a movie based off the Dean Koontz book of the same name.

The book is far superior to the movie, of course.

Posted by: Kratos (Ghost of Sparta) at August 24, 2010 12:25 PM (9hSKh)

45 This why I laugh. Govt thinks it's so damn smart, then Mother Nature comes back an bitch-slaps the arrogant pricks. Just like libs saying that socialism is failing in Europe because they 'didn't do it right'.

Arrogant pricks. Mother Nature just flipped you the bird in a BIG way.

Posted by: Sponge at August 24, 2010 12:25 PM (UK9cE)

Barry: Obviously the microbes acted stupidly

Posted by: TheQuietMan at August 24, 2010 12:25 PM (1Jaio)

47 This isn't news: the same bacteria cleaned up the Persian Gulf quite nicely when Saddam dumped substantially more oil into it than gushed into the Gulf of Mexico.

Posted by: ECM at August 24, 2010 12:25 PM (nYKDd)

48
Yummy, Yummy, Yummy.
I got oil in my tummy,
And I feel like a-eating you:

Posted by: The Microbe Express at August 24, 2010 12:26 PM (rMMMP)

49 Oil-munching microbes doing the work Americans won't...

Posted by: conscious, but incoherent at August 24, 2010 12:26 PM (YVZlY)

50 Should I be worried that after making a deposit to my "vacation" account the balance is now $666.70?

Posted by: jewells at August 24, 2010 12:26 PM (l/N7H)

51

A microbe in every pot!

Posted by: Herbert Ogabe at August 24, 2010 12:27 PM (554T5)

52 This is why bacteria are the true top dog in this crazy circle of life.

Posted by: Kratos (Ghost of Sparta) at August 24, 2010 12:27 PM (9hSKh)

53 We've lost contact with our reporter at sea in the Gulf of Mexico. Stand by.

Posted by: CNN at August 24, 2010 12:27 PM (Nw/hR)

54
47 This isn't news: the same bacteria cleaned up the Persian Gulf quite nicely when Saddam dumped substantially more oil into it than gushed into the Gulf of Mexico. Posted by: ECM

We're everywhere. Franchises are still available.

Posted by: Those previously unknown microbes everybody's been talking about lately at August 24, 2010 12:27 PM (Chg7a)

55 47 This isn't news: the same bacteria cleaned up the Persian Gulf quite nicely when Saddam dumped substantially more oil into it than gushed into the Gulf of Mexico.

Posted by: ECM at August 24, 2010 04:25 PM (nYKDd)

Those were Islamic microbes.

Posted by: North American Oil Munching Microbes at August 24, 2010 12:28 PM (YVZlY)

56 Best of all, that oil is 100% organic!! Posted by: logprof

Stop yanking my long carbon chain!

Posted by: Garbonzo the Garrulous at August 24, 2010 12:28 PM (oL8lS)

57
50 Should I be worried that after making a deposit to my "vacation" account the balance is now $666.70? Posted by: jewells

Going to Mecca?

Posted by: Dang at August 24, 2010 12:29 PM (Chg7a)

58 That's all well and good but my favorite, favorite microbe is still the brewer's yeast. What a fine, fine bug that is.

Posted by: maddogg at August 24, 2010 12:29 PM (OlN4e)

59 Millions of oil-crazed Sex Poodles

Posted by: ingenus at August 24, 2010 12:29 PM (+sBB4)

60 44: This is Dean Koontz we're talking about. That's not saying much.

Besides, my flashbacks are 'The Andromeda Strain'...

Posted by: DarkLordOfTheIntarWebs at August 24, 2010 12:30 PM (IkEhE)

61 45 This why I laugh. Govt thinks it's so damn smart, then Mother Nature comes back an bitch-slaps the arrogant pricks. Just like libs saying that socialism is failing in Europe because they 'didn't do it right'.

Brings to mind this great George Carlin skit on environmentalism.

Posted by: Kratos (Ghost of Sparta) at August 24, 2010 12:30 PM (9hSKh)

62 Nom nom nom nom...

Posted by: Previously unknown microbe at August 24, 2010 12:30 PM (QoR4a)

63 Quick! Stop payment on all those checks to those mendicant losers.

Posted by: B.P. at August 24, 2010 12:30 PM (9cflz)

Gulf T-shirt with picture of microbe:

I went to see the oil spill and all I got was munched!

Posted by: North American Oil Munching Microbes at August 24, 2010 12:30 PM (YVZlY)

65 Here is his last transmission: *static* Oh my God! Start the engines! *static* Get them off! *static*

Posted by: CNN at August 24, 2010 12:31 PM (Nw/hR)

66
I just discovered a new microbe that is eating the polar ice caps. Give me billions now or Earth will die!

Posted by: ManBearPoodle at August 24, 2010 12:31 PM (rMMMP)

67 Chow time and the bacteria come running. Who knew that is how nature behaves.

Posted by: bill-tb at August 24, 2010 12:31 PM (y+QfZ)

Going to Mecca?

Planning to stay in the good ol USA, at least for now.

Posted by: jewells at August 24, 2010 12:32 PM (l/N7H)

We also ate 73.5% of Joe Biden's brain in 1983.

It tasted like dumb, so we didn't finish.

Posted by: Previously unknown microbe at August 24, 2010 12:32 PM (QoR4a)

70 The hidden Imam is hungry. He will devour the oceans before he reveals himself to us.

Posted by: DinnerJacket at August 24, 2010 12:33 PM (+sBB4)

71 Of course nature oozes oil out of the seabed all the time,

"Blasphemer!" -- libtard

Posted by: progressoverpeace at August 24, 2010 12:34 PM (Qp4DT)

72

Veni. Vedi. Munchi.

Posted by: Julius Microbe at August 24, 2010 12:34 PM (554T5)

73 All this oil is great, but it does have its downside...

Posted by: Oil munching microbe with loose bowels at August 24, 2010 12:35 PM (YVZlY)

74 Fun fact: I can also tie my trouser snake into a halyard knot.

Posted by: Previously unknown microbe at August 24, 2010 12:35 PM (QoR4a)

75 They are called HEMIs and I've fucked an awful lot of them. Often.

Posted by: will folks at August 24, 2010 12:36 PM (xmEXV)

76 I got a touch peckish, is all.

Posted by: Great C'thulu at August 24, 2010 12:36 PM (IkEhE)

There's food around the corner,

food around the corner,

food around the corner for me,

bo-de-do-de-do-do

Posted by: microbe under Warner Brothers contract at August 24, 2010 12:36 PM (q8CmE)

78

Veni. Vidi. Munchi.

_{my Latin sucks}

Posted by: Julius Microbe II at August 24, 2010 12:36 PM (554T5)

79 "that is funded by a $500 million, 10-year grant from BP"

It's all a lie from "Big Oil" and some other minor players._{(University of California, Berkeley, the University of Illinois, U.S. Department of Energy and the University of Oklahoma Research Foundation.)}

CBS, supplying trolls with talking points. Not that this info is bad just that it never shows up when Soros is the major funding agent.

Posted by: Buzzsaw at August 24, 2010 12:37 PM (tf9Ne)

Confession: I've always felt like a prokaryote trapped in a eukaryote's body.

Posted by: Previously unknown microbe at August 24, 2010 12:38 PM (QoR4a)

81 Microbes that eat tons of stuff? If any company tries to patent those I'll sue. They were unknown to the gulf before I swam there.

Posted by: Michael Moore at August 24, 2010 12:38 PM (ivAmM)

82 They are all Islamicrobes! They are the reason we get shot at gas stations.

Posted by: CAIR at August 24, 2010 12:38 PM (+sBB4)

83
White House to include microbes in new report on number of jobs created, saved, wished about or dreamed of.

Posted by: Katie Couric's colon at August 24, 2010 12:38 PM (rMMMP)

84 So that's what that munching sound was.

Posted by: Gulf fishermen at August 24, 2010 12:38 PM (Nw/hR)

85 We'll eat hippies too, if you toss us some.

Posted by: Mystery Microbe at August 24, 2010 12:39 PM (k4bdL)

86 Question for the microbes: If it were so-called "light" crude, would it be "Tastes great, less filling"?

Posted by: below average dumbass at August 24, 2010 12:40 PM (q8CmE)

I know I just look like an ordinary microbe, a germ if you will, but I'm hung like a protozoan.

Posted by: microbe who lies a lot at August 24, 2010 12:40 PM (OlN4e)

88 The MFM had people ready to jump out of windows over this.

Posted by: Soap MacTavish at August 24, 2010 12:40 PM (554T5)

89 Well, Barky did take a dip in the Gulf water. Maybe he has super-microbe cooties.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at August 24, 2010 12:40 PM (UOM48)

90 I wonder if they eat oily hobos?

Posted by: FlaviusJulius at August 24, 2010 12:40 PM (9cflz)

91 Actually... we don't eat the oil.

Posted by: Gay microbes at August 24, 2010 12:40 PM (+sBB4)

92 We'd like to acknowledge and thank the terrific Islamic scientists who came up with this oil eating marvel.

Posted by: NASA at August 24, 2010 12:40 PM (aXFvt)

#27 those are muslim microbes - so they get a pass ....

Posted by: Imam Brad Pitt at August 24, 2010 12:40 PM (GvYeG)

94 Bow to us. Like all that oxygen you're breathing? You're welcome.

Posted by: The Prokaryote Hegemony at August 24, 2010 12:41 PM (Nw/hR)

95
So Toru Iwatani didn't really invent Pac-Man, but some other guy did and his name probably starts with G.

Posted by: Fish at August 24, 2010 12:41 PM (v1gw3)

96 Hellooooooo Baby!

Posted by: microbe responsible for vaginal itch at August 24, 2010 12:41 PM (OlN4e)

...Here, we report that the dispersed hydrocarbon plume stimulated deep-sea indigenous {gamma}-proteobacteria that are closely related to known petroleum-degraders. Hydrocarbon-degrading genes coincided with the concentration of various oil contaminants. Changes in hydrocarbon composition with distance from the source and incubation experiments with environmental isolates demonstrate faster-than-expected hydrocarbon biodegradation rates at 5Â°C. Based on these results, the potential exists for intrinsic bioremediation of the oil plume in the deep-water column without substantial oxygen drawdown.

So...in other words, the little fuckers eat oil.

_{(yeesh, fuckin egg heads!)}

Posted by: dananjcon at August 24, 2010 12:42 PM (pr+up)

98 A spokescell for the oil-eating microbes released this statement to CNN:
"More! Now! Or we come ashore and feast!"
And I, for one, would like to welcome our new microbial overlords. I'd like to remind them that as a trusted TV personality, I can be helpful in rounding up others to toil in their undersea oil mines.

Posted by: don lemon, cnn at August 24, 2010 12:42 PM (xmEXV)

99 They are the Worst Microbes in the World!

Posted by: Obly at August 24, 2010 12:42 PM (+sBB4)

100 crude oil is not unnatural ... something has been eating this stuff for alot longer than we have been walking upright ... who knew ? actually who didn't know ? Well, the "experts" didn't know becasue all too many of those "experts" are in the "oil is evil crowd" so they made sure not to look ...

Posted by: Jeff at August 24, 2010 12:42 PM (A3tpD)

101 Aiiiieee!!! Another Yanqui Capitalist bio-weapon! It's eating up my Strategic Butt-Lube Reserve! Ay-yi-yi!

Posted by: Hugo Chavez at August 24, 2010 12:42 PM (k4bdL)

102 We prefer to be referred to as Micro-Americans.

Posted by: Previously unknown microbe at August 24, 2010 12:43 PM (QoR4a)

103 Sorry guys, I'm trying to eat up the stench as fast as I can!

Posted by: Microbe in Me'Chelle's cooter at August 24, 2010 12:44 PM (zgZzy)

104
Is it safe to come out yet?

Posted by: The Gulf Shrimps at August 24, 2010 12:44 PM (554T5)

105 Could these be injected deep underground into Saudi oil fields?

Posted by: FlaviusJulius at August 24, 2010 12:44 PM (9cflz)

106 Why are these microbes only eating dark oil? They are racist rightwing microbes.

Posted by: Obama NAACP CNN at August 24, 2010 12:44 PM (+sBB4)

107 *what is best in life?*

To crush those hydrocarbon bonds, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of their carbon atoms.

Posted by: Conan the Oil-eating Microbe at August 24, 2010 12:44 PM (9hSKh)

108

106 Why are these microbes only eating dark oil? They are racist rightwing microbes.

We've been hoodwinked, run amok!

Posted by: Revered Al Microbe at August 24, 2010 12:45 PM (zgZzy)

109 We prefer to be referred to as Micro-Americans.

That's funny

Posted by: ingenus at August 24, 2010 12:45 PM (+sBB4)

110 But wait, we're confused. How do the microbes know to eat the unnatural, man-made products being pumped into the oceans by the Evil Oilmongers?? It doesn't make sense!!11!!

Posted by: Clueless Enviro-commies at August 24, 2010 12:45 PM (k4bdL)

111 What the fuck? Whatdoyouexpect? I have only one cell? Duh.

Posted by: microbe doing all Joe Bidin's thinking at August 24, 2010 12:45 PM (OlN4e)

112 All your oil are belong to us!

Posted by: Previously unknown microbe at August 24, 2010 12:45 PM (xmEXV)

113 Release all mitochondria or face our wrath!

Posted by: The Prokaryote Hegemony at August 24, 2010 12:45 PM (Nw/hR)

114 Sorry guys, I'm trying to eat up the stench as fast as I can!

When you're finished, get to work on the booty, will ya?

Posted by: Sir Golfsalot at August 24, 2010 12:45 PM (554T5)

115 We're slowly coming to your border coast and taking your jobs!!!

Posted by: Illegal Microbes at August 24, 2010 12:46 PM (zgZzy)

116 Do the microbes have a union yet?

Posted by: Community Organizer at August 24, 2010 12:46 PM (aOKEC)

117 They are muslim-american microbes because everything good in the world is muslim ... we discovered the USA after all ... Angie says hi!

Posted by: Imam Brad Pitt at August 24, 2010 12:47 PM (GvYeG)

118 You thank us now, but just wait for the post-meal flatulence.

It'll be quite explosive.

Posted by: Oil eating microbes at August 24, 2010 12:47 PM (9hSKh)

119 What are all these fucking rodents about???

Posted by: microbe in Richard Gere's colon at August 24, 2010 12:47 PM (OlN4e)

120 You'd think they'd be thanking US!

Posted by: Dung Beetles at August 24, 2010 12:47 PM (aOKEC)

121 Chloroplasts too!

Posted by: The Prokaryote Hegemony at August 24, 2010 12:47 PM (Nw/hR)

122 Will they poop out more refined oil?

Posted by: Moi at August 24, 2010 12:48 PM (Ez4Ql)

123

119 What are all these fucking rodents about???

Can you quit gnawing on my tail, please?

Posted by: Lemmiwinks at August 24, 2010 12:48 PM (zgZzy)

124 I have come here to eat oil and chew bubblegum. And try to guess what? I'm all out of bubblegum.

Posted by: Previously unknown microbe at August 24, 2010 12:49 PM (xmEXV)

125 I wonder what the consumed oil will be afterwards?

Posted by: FlaviusJulius at August 24, 2010 12:49 PM (9cflz)

126 What does it mean?

Posted by: Smelly Rainbow Hippy at August 24, 2010 12:49 PM (QoR4a)

127 Amerikas oil-eating microbes have come home to roost.

Posted by: Jeremiah Wright at August 24, 2010 12:49 PM (aXFvt)

128 We've been here for 3.8 billion years. See that lawn? Get off it!

Posted by: The Prokaryote Hegemony at August 24, 2010 12:49 PM (Nw/hR)

129

Dammit, Jim! I'm a microbe, not a doctor!

Posted by: Bones McMicrobe at August 24, 2010 12:49 PM (554T5)

130

The 'drill, baby drill' mentality of these microbes is really going to piss Bill Mahr off.

Just sayin'

Posted by: Hussein the Plumber at August 24, 2010 12:50 PM (RkRxq)

131 That crazy guy from "Over the Top" drank oil, too.

Posted by: Stallone at August 24, 2010 12:50 PM (aOKEC)

132

125 I wonder what the consumed oil will be afterwards?

My new deep-heating face mask.

Posted by: Paris Hilton at August 24, 2010 12:50 PM (zgZzy)

133

Posted by: the captain's log at August 24, 2010 12:50 PM (uFokq)

134 Brings to mind this great George Carlin skit on environmentalism.

Posted by: Kratos (Ghost of Sparta) at August 24, 2010 04:30 PM (9hSKh)

Loves me some George Carlin. Before he lost his mind and became all angry, I mean.

Posted by: Sponge at August 24, 2010 12:51 PM (UK9cE)

135 Crude oil leaks, Big Oil, Big 0, bureaucrats, (and Leftists, oh my!), missing oil spill, new microbes, ...... too many plot twists and turns ...... can't tell anything without a program.

Do any of the remaining players have lasers on their heads?

Posted by: Arbalest at August 24, 2010 12:51 PM (VZC6E)

136 We really are older than dirt!

Posted by: Oil eating microbes at August 24, 2010 12:51 PM (9hSKh)

137 And you thought the oil-eating microbes were confined to our hair!

Posted by: Typical Italian at August 24, 2010 12:51 PM (zgZzy)

138

El Rushbo had this weeks and weeks ago. Not this specific bug, but the whole idea that the Earth knows what it's doing, it just needs a little help from time to time.

I still have relatives and others that do not believe that the natural seeps are an order of magnitude larger than this spill and that they have been going on for goodness knows how long. Yet the beaches are clean. Ya gotta know that Mother Nature has bred some nice little oil eatin' critters to clean up things. Duh.

Posted by: chuck in st paul at August 24, 2010 12:51 PM (adr25)

139 they would eat much more oil but they have to stop several times a day to pray

Posted by: Imam Brad Pitt at August 24, 2010 12:51 PM (GvYeG)

140 Might as well drill. We now have oil eating microbes.

Posted by: FlaviusJulius at August 24, 2010 12:51 PM (9cflz)

141

We shall fight on the beaches! We shall fight on the seas and oceans! We shall fight...

... uhm ...

Just those.

Just those ones.

Posted by: Previously Unknown Microbe at August 24, 2010 12:51 PM (QoR4a)

142 Listen. The oil is not going to last forever. We've got to come up with alternative eating sources.

Posted by: Previously unknown microbe hippie at August 24, 2010 12:52 PM (xmEXV)

143 These oil-eating microbes don't go after Astro-Glide, do they?

Posted by: Lindsay Lohan at August 24, 2010 12:52 PM (zgZzy)

144 The system worked

Posted by: dagny at August 24, 2010 12:52 PM (TJ/aI)

145 Tax it! Tax it! Tax it!

Too much oil in your diet is unhealthy or something... tax them for eating all that oil!

Posted by: Mayor Bloomberg at August 24, 2010 12:53 PM (aXFvt)

146 Microbes are my favorite three-letter word!

Posted by: Microbe Joe Biden at August 24, 2010 12:53 PM (zgZzy)

147 Whoever made the earth was a freaking genius.

Posted by: FlaviusJulius at August 24, 2010 12:53 PM (9cflz)

148
Crudawndo Got Electrolytes, It's What Microbes Crave!

Posted by: Crudawndo Corp at August 24, 2010 12:53 PM (rMMMP)

149

deep-sea indigenous {gamma}-proteobacteria that are closely related to known petroleum-degraders

Cut...Jib...Newsletter...Website, Trade name?

Posted by: Necrotizing fasciitis at August 24, 2010 12:54 PM (pr+up)

150 Today, the Gulf is ours, and tomorrow the whole Atlantic!!!

Posted by: Previously unknown microbe hitler at August 24, 2010 12:54 PM (xmEXV)

151 Dad always told me I'd make it big someday.

Posted by: unknown little critter at August 24, 2010 12:54 PM (gbCNS)

152 "We must save the endangered oil-eating microbes! They are all going to die unless selfish Americans stop hogging all of the oil. America needs to dump all of its oil into the Gulf to save this new endangered species! Stop using oil for cars and power and petrochemicals. The endangered microbes need their food."

-- moonbat hitting on a new argument to strip America of cheap energy

Posted by: progressoverpeace at August 24, 2010 12:54 PM (Qp4DT)

153 147 Whoever made the earth was a freaking genius.

Posted by: FlaviusJulius at August 24, 2010 04:53 PM (9cflz)

Nailed it!

Posted by: Hussein the Plumber at August 24, 2010 12:55 PM (RkRxq)

154 And to think if we had switched to green energy we would have wiped out this species.

Posted by: FlaviusJulius at August 24, 2010 12:55 PM (9cflz)

155 Whatever it is that's eating the oil, it surly must fart and/or shit, producing very serious gasses that hasten global warming worse than even normal oil being burned off. This bacteria must be stopped.

Posted by: JDW at August 24, 2010 12:55 PM (uw+0A)

156

surely...not surly

Posted by: JDW at August 24, 2010 12:56 PM (uw+0A)

157 We really are older than dirt!
And smarter than shit!

Posted by: Previously unknown microbe at August 24, 2010 12:56 PM (xmEXV)

158

"some unknown little critter who throws a monkeywrench into their plans."

Heh.

Posted by: The Lord Moves In Mysterious Ways at August 24, 2010 12:56 PM (Zj8fM)

159 #156 I bet those would be some surly ones ...

Posted by: Imam Brad Pitt at August 24, 2010 12:56 PM (GvYeG)

160 153 147 Whoever made the earth was a freaking genius.

Posted by: FlaviusJulius at August 24, 2010 04:53 PM (9cflz)

Nailed it!

Posted by: Hussein the Plumber at August 24, 2010 04:55 PM (RkRxq

Move along, move along. Nothing to see here folks

Posted by: Christopher Hitchens at August 24, 2010 12:57 PM (TJ/aI)

161

Whoever made the earth was a freaking genius.

Thx.

Gotta be honest, though. This one was just to fuck with the hippies.

Posted by: God at August 24, 2010 12:57 PM (QoR4a)

162

So if I smear Quaker State 10w30 on my sack...Hmmm, its worth a try!

Posted by: Christopher Hitchens at August 24, 2010 12:57 PM (pr+up)

163 Now my secret ingredients are not so secret

Posted by: GooGone at August 24, 2010 12:57 PM (+sBB4)

164 Evolution is your friend. Now pay us.

Posted by: The Prokaryote Hegemony at August 24, 2010 12:57 PM (Nw/hR)

165 We are suing anyone who mentions oil-eating microbes without our knowledge!

Posted by: Righthaven at August 24, 2010 12:57 PM (zgZzy)

166 And maybe God created a microbe to eat oil too.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at August 24, 2010 12:57 PM (61b7k)

167 I bet the microbes are in bed with big oil.

Posted by: ManBearPoodle at August 24, 2010 12:58 PM (9cflz)

168 Are you talkin' to me, asshole? You must be talkin' to me. We're the only ones in the room.

Posted by: Previously unknown surly microbe at August 24, 2010 12:58 PM (xmEXV)

169 We are just eating the oil you don't want to eat and making Anchor Microbes.

Posted by: Previously Undiscovered Illegal Alien Microbe at August 24, 2010 12:59 PM (aOKEC)

170 We have commenced negotiations with the microbes and are going to announce a merger within the hour.

Posted by: Haliburton at August 24, 2010 12:59 PM (zgZzy)

171 Honey? Do these hydrocarbon-degrading genes make my ass look fat?

Posted by: Previously unknown microbe's wife at August 24, 2010 01:00 PM (xmEXV)

172
Hmmm. I wonder if there's microbes that can eat sand traps?

Posted by: Sir Golfsalot at August 24, 2010 01:00 PM (554T5)

173 Probably a right wing plot . . .

Posted by: denny crane at August 24, 2010 01:00 PM (zgZzy)

174 I discovered these things a long, long time ago, and no one is giving me credit!!!

Posted by: Jharles Cohnson at August 24, 2010 01:00 PM (aXFvt)

175 it only stands to reason some critter would have evolved over time that would take advantage of that food source. We were just never looking for them, and they just did their work for millions of years without a care in the world.

No need for liberals to be concerned. The next crisis (over-population of microbes) is, uh -- "hatching"? Watch: it'll be Gore's next project.

Posted by: Roger at August 24, 2010 01:00 PM (tAwhy)

176 We want to meet Megan Fox.

Posted by: The Prokaryote Hegemony at August 24, 2010 01:01 PM (Nw/hR)

177 Whatcha thinking?

Posted by: Microbe Girlfriend at August 24, 2010 01:01 PM (aOKEC)

178 I think that we should investigate who is funding these previously unknown microbes.

Posted by: Nancy Pelosi at August 24, 2010 01:01 PM (TJ/aI)

179 Racist microbes, add them to the UN report.

Posted by: Vic at August 24, 2010 01:01 PM (/jbAw)

180

Step1: Eat oil.

Step2: ????

Step3: Mitosis.

Posted by: Previously unknown microbe at August 24, 2010 01:02 PM (QoR4a)

181
microbes doing the jobs Americans can't be bothered to do?

Posted by: the captain's log at August 24, 2010 01:02 PM (uFokq)

182 You idiots thought we were little green men.

Posted by: Alien Microbes at August 24, 2010 01:02 PM (+sBB4)

183 Fly my pretties, fly!

Posted by: Dick Cheney (circling the Gulf in the Haliburton Hurricane/Microbe Machine) at August 24, 2010 01:03 PM (aXFvt)

184 I bet the microbes are in bed with big oil.

They gotta be. Big Oil's their bread and butter, so to speak.

Posted by: HeatherRadish at August 24, 2010 01:03 PM (9PzaA)

185 ITS A TRAP!

Posted by: Admiral Ackbar at August 24, 2010 01:03 PM (9cflz)

186 Megan Fox and Patty Anne Brown. Put them on a raft and send them to us.

Posted by: The Prokaryote Hegemony at August 24, 2010 01:03 PM (Nw/hR)

187

This microbe war is unwinnable.

Posted by: Jon F'n Carry at August 24, 2010 01:04 PM (554T5)

188 If this is a new species, do we get to take one off the extinction list the envirowackos keep? Who is keeping score, anyway?

Posted by: kurtilator at August 24, 2010 01:04 PM (juh4Z)

189 The Cheney. We fear him. And The Caddell.

Posted by: The Prokaryote Hegemony at August 24, 2010 01:04 PM (Nw/hR)

190 we would like to build a muslim microbe mosque at the BP oil spill site

Posted by: Imam Brad Pitt at August 24, 2010 01:04 PM (GvYeG)

191

Fuckin' Tums.

These things don't do crap. *burp*

Posted by: Previously unknown microbe at August 24, 2010 01:04 PM (QoR4a)

192 They better leave better than 94% clean sea water or the EPA will NOT allow them to exist and clean up the oil.

Posted by: Sponge at August 24, 2010 01:04 PM (UK9cE)

193 Of course nature oozes oil out of the seabed all the time, and it only stands to reason some critter would have evolved over time that would take advantage of that food source.

Oil is our stimulus...and yours too!

Posted by: Oil eating microbes at August 24, 2010 01:05 PM (9hSKh)

194

File next to: Microbe that cleans up dioxin sites,...or was it PCB's, maybe both. FYNQ.

Posted by: Pelvis at August 24, 2010 01:05 PM (LlaBi)

195 We got pineapple oil, sweet-n-sour oil, sauteed oil, teriyake oil, deep fried oil, oil sandwiches, oil scampi, cocktail oil....I reckon that's about all.

Posted by: Previously Undiscovered Bubba Gump Microbe at August 24, 2010 01:05 PM (aOKEC)

196 Are they Mexican microbes doing the job American microbes won't do?

Posted by: Lance McCormick at August 24, 2010 01:05 PM (xC+kV)

197 it only stands to reason some critter would have evolved over time that would take advantage of that food source.

If any of the "Republicans hate science!" eco-fascism crowd start denying this evolution could possibly have taken place, I will overdose on Schadefreude.

Posted by: HeatherRadish at August 24, 2010 01:06 PM (9PzaA)

198 Megyn Kelly would be mine now if she weren't married.

Posted by: unknown little critter at August 24, 2010 01:06 PM (gbCNS)

199 They better leave better than 94% clean sea water or the EPA will NOT allow them to exist and clean up the oil.

OSHA's already written them up for not allowing five daily prayer breaks.

Posted by: HeatherRadish at August 24, 2010 01:07 PM (9PzaA)

200 Oops, forgot to refresh and read more comments.

I denounce myself. Also the racist microbes.

Posted by: Lance McCormick at August 24, 2010 01:07 PM (xC+kV)

201 Listen! I've answered about four questions already. Can't a previously-unknown microbe eat his oil in peace?

Posted by: Previously unknown microbial presidential candidate at August 24, 2010 01:08 PM (xmEXV)

202 Just because we can't prove these previously unknown microbes caused the Haiti earthquake is not a license for inaction.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at August 24, 2010 01:08 PM (NvFZs)

203 Wait for our October surprise, bitches!

Posted by: National Debt-Eating Microbes at August 24, 2010 01:09 PM (YVZlY)

204 Are my fiance and I welcome on this thread?

Posted by: AlvinGreene at August 24, 2010 01:09 PM (X6a9o)

205 Following close on the heals of his success of allowing the oil spill to go unabated for so long to find a new microbe which eats oil the Obama Administration announced today it has decided to go ahead with plans to dump trash in the Amazon Rain forest.

Posted by: The MSM at August 24, 2010 01:09 PM (ivAmM)

206 ...Furthermore, my moratorium on drilling will protect our natural resources from the Evil Microbes. They can't eat what we don't drill!

Posted by: Boney Prince Ogabe at August 24, 2010 01:09 PM (FcR7P)

207 I CN HAZ OYL? NOM NOM

Posted by: bacterial walrus at August 24, 2010 01:09 PM (0niR1)

208 These cute little microbes are my friends.......

Posted by: microbe man at August 24, 2010 01:09 PM (OlN4e)

209 197, I doubt most Leftists understand Evolution well at all. They just like to pick it up and throw it at their enemies.

Posted by: eman at August 24, 2010 01:09 PM (Nw/hR)

210 This is a pretty good gig. What other creature makes headlines just for eating?

Posted by: unknown little critter at August 24, 2010 01:09 PM (gbCNS)

211 I'm sure you come to our place for the fried oil. But, our microbes love to conjugate.

Posted by: Microbe Hooters at August 24, 2010 01:10 PM (+sBB4)

212 Send more oil!
NOW!!

Posted by: previously unknown microbe what loves eating oil, with an attitude at August 24, 2010 01:10 PM (Qp4DT)

213
unknown microbes in:

There Will Be Oil

Posted by: Jane D'oh at August 24, 2010 01:10 PM (UOM48)

214
You can't hug your kid with previously unknown microbes.

Posted by: Code Pinkeye at August 24, 2010 01:10 PM (rMMMP)

215 Megan Fox and Patty Anne Brown.
Put them on a raft and send them to us.
And don't forget the baby oil.

Posted by: Previously unknown microbial with a very large moustache and sideburns at August 24, 2010 01:11 PM (xmEXV)

216 Let's just pray these bitches don't evolve into bacon-devouring microbes.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at August 24, 2010 01:11 PM (UOM48)

217 Janeane Garofalo? There are some things we won't munch on.

Posted by: Cooter Munching Microbes at August 24, 2010 01:12 PM (YVZlY)

218 You can keep the Fox chick, yuck.

Posted by: microbe who doesn't like graffiti women at August 24, 2010 01:12 PM (OlN4e)

219 Do they eat those annoying Greenpeace sonsabitches too? Hang some parsley around their necks and push them out of their boat to find out.

Posted by: sifty at August 24, 2010 01:13 PM (0niR1)

220 Biden has just called the White House kitchen asking for "microbe pie".

Posted by: eman at August 24, 2010 01:13 PM (Nw/hR)

221 I love the smell of oil in the morning... The smell, you know that gasoline smell... Smells like, dinner!

Posted by: Lieutenant Colonel Oil-Eating (Bill) Microbe at August 24, 2010 01:14 PM (9hSKh)

222

Limbaugh has been stealing stuff left and right from blogs without any attributions lately, especially from S&L. In the past he'd give cred points for various blogs, even mentioning Ace one time. Not so much anymore. I think he stole my post about what happens to oil spills. Maybe he fact checked it after he stole it and, therefore, thinks it's his own. Rush should really start crediting everyone he steals from -- not just Tepid Air.

Posted by: Ed Anger at August 24, 2010 01:14 PM (7+pP9)

223 Let's just pray these bitches don't evolve into bacon-devouring microbes.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at August 24, 2010 05:11 PM (UOM4

Isn't there a tofu that tastes like bacon? They can eat that. Can't they? Can we fool them? DON'T TAKE MY BACON!!!!

Posted by: Sponge at August 24, 2010 01:14 PM (UK9cE)

224 Microbes don't exist

Posted by: Hitchens at August 24, 2010 01:14 PM (+sBB4)

225 Janeane Garofalo? There are some things we won't munch on.
Hey--we eat oil not scum.

Posted by: Previously unknown microbe at August 24, 2010 01:14 PM (xmEXV)

226

"...chowing down on deep/cold oil plume"

Heh. Man. I knew a girl who could do that once.

Posted by: redstatedeb at August 24, 2010 01:14 PM (ykmvs)

227
Previously unknown microbes were a failure until they hired me to shape 'em up.

Posted by: Mittens Romney at August 24, 2010 01:14 PM (rMMMP)

228 Are there GreenPeace fleets about?

Posted by: The French Navy at August 24, 2010 01:15 PM (9cflz)

229 I knew I saw these microbes inside Palin's vajaja

Posted by: Andy at August 24, 2010 01:15 PM (+sBB4)

230 Do they like Cheeze Whiz?

Posted by: eman at August 24, 2010 01:16 PM (Nw/hR)

231 Thanks for tying us to Janeane Garofalo, previously-unknown oil-eating microbes. You bottom dwellers think you're so cool. Well, blow me!

Posted by: pond scum at August 24, 2010 01:16 PM (xmEXV)

232 My Friends,
I say we build a danged fence around these wild microbes!!!

Posted by: John McCain, Microbe Maverick at August 24, 2010 01:16 PM (0niR1)

233 From now on, all gas stations and oil refineries must spill no less than 5% of their product into special "previously unknown microbe that eats oil" nature reserves that we have declared must be established at every site where there is more than one teaspoon of oil or any petroleum product. Failure to comply with this important rule will result in summary judgment and execution at the offending site, after which the entire site will be turned into a "previously unknown microbe that eats oil" preserve.

Posted by: We're the EPA ... Dammit! at August 24, 2010 01:17 PM (Qp4DT)

234 Thanks for tying us to Janeane Garofalo, previously-unknown oil-eating microbes. You bottom dwellers think you're so cool. Well, blow me!

I've done em both......

Posted by: Will Folks at August 24, 2010 01:17 PM (UK9cE)

235 I love it when Mother Nature screws with liberal minds. Yes, it's not a helpless damsel in distress but a kick-butt old lady who really is annoyed with the insults.

Posted by: EZB at August 24, 2010 01:17 PM (Ty06w)

236 Just when we finally settled things with Whale and Dolphin!

F**k you, Microbes!

Posted by: Japanese at August 24, 2010 01:17 PM (0niR1)

237
Previously unknown microbe, you are a Great American!

Posted by: Sean Hammitup at August 24, 2010 01:18 PM (rMMMP)

238 232 My Friends,
I say we build a danged fence around these wild microbes!!!

Posted by: John McCain, Microbe Maverick at August 24, 2010 05:16 PM (0niR1)

We deserve to munch wild and free!

Posted by: North American Buffalo-looking Microbe at August 24, 2010 01:18 PM (YVZlY)

239 Unprecedented! microbe chowing down on deep/cold oil plume

Posted by: The AP credits Obumble at August 24, 2010 01:18 PM (FcR7P)

240 I would like to know why there are so many authors listed. Must have been quite a BS session going on. I wonder what the record for authors is.

Posted by: Ruth H at August 24, 2010 01:18 PM (JFseb)

241 I had a corvair that ate/drank oil back in the late 60's. Insert Nader joke here:__________.

Posted by: RedneknSC at August 24, 2010 01:18 PM (rgWLE)

242 You can keep the Fox chick, yuck.
Posted by: microbe who doesn't like graffiti women at August 24, 2010 05:12 PM (OlN4e)
Fool!

Posted by: previously (and still) unknown ink-eating microbe at August 24, 2010 01:19 PM (Qp4DT)

243 A microbe is only small to those with litle minds. they are simply HUGE to me. And those bastards are cooking off!!!1!!

Posted by: AGW Supporter at August 24, 2010 01:19 PM (ykmvs)

244 So Americans aren't the only ones addicted to oil.

Posted by: Usful Ijit at August 24, 2010 01:19 PM (M/psB)

245 Are these microbes pinheads or patriots?

And who is looking out for the microbe-folks?

Posted by: Bill O'Whorely at August 24, 2010 01:20 PM (0niR1)

246 I am looking out for the microbes. I need the votes. dammit

Posted by: Blanche Lincoln at August 24, 2010 01:24 PM (ykmvs)

247
Who is the real father of the previously unknown microbe? Stay tuned for the DNA tests results after this commercial break!

Posted by: Jerry Sprunger at August 24, 2010 01:24 PM (rMMMP)

248

NAAM...NAAM...NAAM

We have strength in numbers and voices will be heard!

Posted by: National Association for the Advancement of Microbes at August 24, 2010 01:24 PM (YVZlY)

249 Oh, great. The Monkey Wrench Union is already demanding a raise.

Posted by: unknown little critter at August 24, 2010 01:25 PM (gbCNS)

250 247
Who is the real father of the previously unknown microbe? Stay tuned for the DNA tests results after this commercial break!

Posted by: Jerry Sprunger at August 24, 2010 05:24 PM (rMMMP)

Bet it was Tiger!

Posted by: Blanche Lincoln at August 24, 2010 01:29 PM (ykmvs)

251 The contributions of ~~Muslims~~ oil-eating microbes to the United States are too long to catalogue because ~~Muslims~~ oil-eating microbes are so interwoven into the fabric of our communities and our country. American ~~Muslims~~ oil-eating microbes are successful in business and entertainment, the arts and athletics, in science and in medicine. Above all, they are successful parents, good neighbors and active citizens. The ~~Muslim religion~~ oil-eating microbes, ~~as long as we know it, is~~ are part of America and like the broader American citizenry, the American ~~Muslim~~ oil-eating microbe community is one of extraordinary dynamism and diversity.

Posted by: The Precedent, Nobel Lariat, Sooper-genius at August 24, 2010 01:29 PM (Qp4DT)

252 Oh yeah, it's all sun and rainbows now, but soon...real soon...it'll pull together, come up onto shore, and start eating your cities.

Then you'll be screaming for me. Just you wait.

Posted by: Gojira-sama at August 24, 2010 01:29 PM (IkEhE)

253

Bet it was Tiger!

Posted by: Blanche Lincoln at August 24, 2010 05:29 PM (ykmvs)

oops...my first venture into the land of sockpuppets and I fucked the landing! Dammit to hell!

Posted by: redstatedeb at August 24, 2010 01:35 PM (ykmvs)

254 Thus deep-sea indigenous {gamma}-proteobacteria > left coast indigenous {beta}-eco-homo sapiens.

Posted by: minstrelboy at August 24, 2010 01:37 PM (rwioF)

255 Now to find evidence of abiotic petroleum production...

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at August 24, 2010 01:40 PM (61b7k)

256

oops...my first venture into the land of sockpuppets and I fucked the landing! Dammit to hell!

Posted by: redstatedeb at August 24, 2010 05:35 PM (ykmvs)

Don't worry. Tiger nailed Blanche, too. He was really, really, really drunk and only had some loose change on him.

Posted by: progressoverpeace at August 24, 2010 01:45 PM (Qp4DT)

257 "ItÂ’s very dangerous to invent something in our times; ostentatious men of the other world, who are hostile to innovations, roam about angrily."

Posted by: ildan at August 24, 2010 01:52 PM (+sBB4)

258
Why didn't these "previously unknown microbes" warn us about hurricane Katrina? Why aren't they helping to rebuild New Orleans? RACISTS!

Posted by: Dang at August 24, 2010 02:05 PM (Chg7a)

259 Join me in Washington DC this Christmas for a very special event honoring Previously Undiscovered Microbes as God and the Founders intended.

*tear runs down cheek*

Posted by: Grenn Peck at August 24, 2010 02:06 PM (0niR1)

260 Can someone spray me again and get rid of these pests?

Posted by: The Gulf at August 24, 2010 02:08 PM (+sBB4)

261 This is from a Times-Pic article about the confirmed 22-mile-long deep water oil plume:

http://tinyurl.com/2cge49d

"Reddy warned that the data represent a snapshot in time, and the fate of the oil that was measured then is unknown. And it likely won't be found in the same location, as the plume was moving at about 4 miles per day, due to currents at that depth.

Photographs taken during the cruise from a remotely operated vehicle about 1,500 feet southwest of the well site, which is about 65 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi River, show the beginning of brownish cloudy water at 1,065 meters, turning to a deeper brown color at 1,100 meters and 1,200 meters, and lessening in intensity at 1,300 meters. Photos from above and below those levels show purple- or blue-tinged water.

The scientists reported that small oil droplets temporarily collected on the camera lens within the plume.

The scientists also found that oxygen levels near the plume did not seem to be affected by the presence of hydrocarbons, which they said raises questions about the ability of bacteria and other organisms to break down oil in deep water. But that may also be a plus for fisheries, they said.

"This suggests that if the hydrocarbons are indeed susceptible to biodegradation, then it may require many months before microbes significantly attenuate the hydrocarbon plume to the point that oxygen minimum zones develop that are intense enough to threaten Gulf fisheries, " they wrote."

(It's worth the full read.)

Posted by: Brian in New Orleans at August 24, 2010 02:19 PM (B/b+R)

262 Oil. It's what's for dinner.

Posted by: previously unknown microbe that eats oil at August 24, 2010 02:29 PM (csCCS)

263

I foresee a really great potential new SyFy made for TV epic from this new info...

Mutant microbes devouring ALL in it's PATH! Not even Sharktopus was this big a threat! Can this be the end of Human-i-tee?

Posted by: newguy40 at August 24, 2010 02:45 PM (kduZC)

264 Waaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh! Little buggie is destroying our chance at raking in research grant after research grant for years to come! It's not fair! We need a bailout!

Posted by: Academics, oining for eco disasters while sucking on the public teat at August 24, 2010 03:09 PM (UzjcV)

265

Does this mean we can't kill all the republicans now? wtf?

Posted by: Brad Pitt at August 24, 2010 03:26 PM (w7TI0)

266 I, for one, hail our new proteobacteria overlords.

Posted by: Comrade Arthur at August 24, 2010 03:57 PM (5Plp1)

267 God designed this earth...very well.

Posted by: CMU VET at August 24, 2010 04:51 PM (HYbmk)

268 Anybody that has owned a boat with big diesel tanks know that bacteria will eat your fuel if you don't use it. Don't take long. There are additives to kill the critters.

Posted by: Shep at August 24, 2010 07:44 PM (7FgWm)

269

There's Truthers, there's Birthers....and now there's Weller's. There's 'evidence of a second BP well that got capped while the gusher still gushes. Elaborate hi-tech ruse.

There's plenty for the microbes to eat now. We can take them off the super duper secret endangered species list.

Posted by: torabora at August 24, 2010 08:19 PM (9lEWo)

270 "wired" tight

Just sayin.

Posted by: tangonine at August 24, 2010 09:21 PM (C8Pcc)

271

very informative post, thanks for sharing it with us

Posted by: bidcactus scam at January 13, 2011 06:06 AM (FcTrp)

272

Happy to see your blog as it is just what IÂ’ve looking for and excited to read all the posts. I am looking forward to another great article from you.

Posted by: Stockport computer Repairs at January 22, 2011 10:29 AM (EnxX2)

273 I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article.

Posted by: Middleton Computer Repair at January 28, 2011 10:17 AM (grACb)

274 There are certainly a lot of details like that to take into consideration.

Posted by: oil paintings at May 22, 2011 07:11 PM (dCAh0)

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