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Chemist Identifies Mystery 'Blobs' Washing Up in Newfoundland

(www.nytimes.com)
73 points mykowebhn | 9 comments | 15 Nov 24 18:57 UTC | HN request time: 0.304s | source | bottom
1. tiahura ◴[15 Nov 24 19:33 UTC] No.42150082[source]▶
So, butylene rubber, a petroleum-based industrial adhesive. Meanwhile, Ottawa thinks it's plant based.
replies(2): >>42150190 #>>42190967 #
2. NotSammyHagar ◴[15 Nov 24 19:44 UTC] No.42150190[source]▶
the article doesn't say it, but this all suggests someone probably had a bunch of old crap in a tank and dumped in the ocean. Maybe it was a giant ocean liner amount of it. Right? Why does no one want to just say that outright?
replies(2): >>42150267 #>>42150582 #
3. Scoundreller ◴[15 Nov 24 19:54 UTC] No.42150267[source]▶
Mostly because the article is about a chemist focussed on identifying WTF it is and less so an expert in shipping/unreported damage/clandestine dumping.
replies(1): >>42190940 #
4. chasil ◴[15 Nov 24 20:27 UTC] No.42150582[source]▶
Alternately, shipping containers are regularly lost from container ships.

The article doesn't say if this was closer to raw material or waste.

replies(1): >>42174830 #
5. NotSammyHagar ◴[18 Nov 24 17:43 UTC] No.42174830{3}[source]▶
Good point, didn't think about that stuff falls off ships pretty commonly.
6. whythre ◴[20 Nov 24 04:57 UTC] No.42190940{3}[source]▶
Seems like goofy credentialism. Large amounts of this stuff don’t just appear; someone put it there. Why do we need an expert in ‘clandestine dumping’ to tell us that?
replies(1): >>42191055 #
7. labster ◴[20 Nov 24 05:04 UTC] No.42190967[source]▶
Nothing to worry about, it’s just Elon building Galt’s Gulch in the middle of the Canadian wilderness.
8. akira2501 ◴[20 Nov 24 05:29 UTC] No.42191055{4}[source]▶
> expert in ‘clandestine dumping’

Do bears clandestinely dump in the woods?

replies(1): >>42193584 #
9. guerrilla ◴[20 Nov 24 13:04 UTC] No.42193584{5}[source]▶
Only when nobody's looking.