This week Berkley scientists were surprised to find that microorganisms in the Gulf of Mexico have been “eating” the oil from this summer’s spill. WikiNews Gulf of Mexico
Why the surprise, guys?
I’m no scientist, but I’d expect that oil (a naturally-produced compound under the earth’s crust) has broken through before. I’d also expect these eruptions to have occurred more frequently in the ocean (since oceans cover 70% of earth’s surface, stats found here: EOEarth). We’ve only been able to explore the ocean’s complexities (especially the microscopic complexities) within the last three hundred years thanks to the advent of Leeowenhoek’s microscope. So I’d expect there to be some kind of organism that feeds off these occasional under-sea oil eruptions. Nature cares for her own.
This doesn’t mean I think clean-up efforts in the Gulf should stop. I’m shocked at how long it took us to cap our mess. Even though the ocean has proven it can restore balance on its own, we are still responsible for our actions in the water. Having introduced machinery that exaggerated the natural state and frequency of oil plumes (in order to harvest it for our personal comfort), we are accountable for the excesses that have been leaked into the unassuming ocean environment.
Instead of surprise, it would make more sense for us to feel ashamed: tiny microorganisms in the ocean were quicker to clean up their home than we were to stop the problem we created.