A Real-Life Version of "The Blob"

Fans of the 1958 Steve McQueen sci-fi/horror classic The Blob may be interested in this news item from Alaska that has nothing to do with Sarah Palin.

According to the Anchorage Daily News, the U.S. Coast Guard is investigating a large mass of black goo that is not an oil slick, floating north miles offshore. The blob seems to be killing the sea creatures that come in contact with it, including jellyfish and at least one unfortunate goose. It reportedly has a distinct odor (I wonder if it smells like rotting jellyfish and geese).

Theories include an algae bloom or "some sort of naturally occurring organic or otherwise marine organism," according to Coast Guard P.O. 1st Class Terry Hasenauer.

I was not aware that there are inorganic marine organisms. I guess one learns something new every day.