Thousands of black balls flooded the coast of Australia for the second time: what is it and how did it appear in the ocean (photo)

About three months ago, scientists reported the appearance of mysterious black spheres on the coast of New South Wales. Researchers traveled to beaches in Sydney's eastern suburbs to collect samples for further laboratory analysis.

Now, three months after the first discovery, these mysterious dark spheres have reappeared, and no one can explain their origin. This is reported by Lab Online.

According to preliminary findings, scientists suggest that the spheres found back in October 2024 may be so-called "tar balls" - dark, sticky, spherical formations that arise from weathered oil and are periodically found on coasts around the world.

Further research has shown that black balls are predominantly composed of fatty acids, small amounts of petroleum hydrocarbons, and other components such as human hair, various fibers, and bacteria associated with sewage. In addition, recent analysis has revealed that the hydrocarbons in these formations are similar to intermediate or heavy petroleum fuels that are widely used in shipping. However, the origin of these strange spheres remains a mystery.

As part of the new study, scientists analyzed weather conditions and ocean currents a few days before the spheres appeared on the coast. The goal was to find out whether they could have been formed as a result of a marine fuel leak. However, no convincing evidence for this theory was found. The results also showed that at the time the black spheres appeared on Australian beaches, there were no problems with the operation of water treatment plants.

In the end, Stephen Beeman, Executive Director of Regulatory Affairs and Services at the New South Wales Environmental Protection Authority, noted that experts were unable to link the formation of these mysterious black spheres to any specific incident or source.

The researchers continued to collect samples of the mysterious spheres, and the results of the analysis confirmed their similarity to formations previously found on the coast of Australia. In December, these mysterious drops reappeared on the east coast of the beach in Cornell and were later discovered on two beaches on the South Coast.

The Environmental Protection Agency has announced an expanded investigation into the causes of these spheres. Director of Operations Adam Gilligan said that a special team of environmental pollution experts will examine all possible aspects in detail, including potential links between different cases.

Experts emphasize that the investigation of environmental pollution is a complex process, but scientists will continue to investigate to find all possible sources. Potential causes include both land-based factors, such as problems with the sewer or stormwater system, and marine sources, including waste from cruise ships or other vessels. The possibility of garbage being dumped into stormwater cannot be ruled out.

Initial tests conducted by the North Beaches Council revealed the presence of hydrocarbons in the fragments. Subsequently, additional tests showed the presence of saturated fatty acids, fecal coliforms and E. coli. The Environmental Protection Agency plans to compare its own samples with those collected by the Council for a detailed comparative analysis.

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