Natural bacteria are cleaning up the BP oil spill

John — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:15:35 +0000

The BP oil spill is dissipating faster than expected. Why? One reason is bacteria. From today's NYT:

"Scientists said the rapid dissipation of the surface oil was probably due to a combination of factors. The gulf has an immense natural capacity to break down oil, which leaks into it at a steady rate from thousands of natural seeps. Though none of the seeps is anywhere near the size of the Deepwater Horizon leak, they do mean that the gulf is swarming with bacteria that can eat oil."

When I attended Jackson Landers' deer hunting seminar earlier this year (see here and here), we learned how deer can't immediately eat as much as they want of a new food supply (say, acorns) -- it can take a few days to grow the required bacteria in their stomachs.

Makes you wonder about all the beneficial bacteria we kill off with the overuse of antibiotics.

Hunter-Gatherer - BP Oil Spill

Natural bacteria are cleaning up the BP oil spill