The sudden appearance of strange things on the grass? | Flickr
In 1733, someone who discovered star jelly wrote to the Royal Society of London, claiming to have seen meteors and found "jelly" at some of the meteor fall sites.
References to star jelly can be found even earlier. In the 13th century, an English physician described it as "a type of mucous substance from the Earth" and claimed it could treat abscesses.
14th-century documents describe this semi-transparent or grayish-white substance as evaporating shortly after falling. The Mexicans referred to it as "moon feces," and some described it as having a butter-like texture, often appearing in fields after rain.
From ancient times to the present day, people have often encountered this strange substance in damp environments.
Reports about star jelly have persisted to this day. However, there are various theories about how it appears.
In 1979, in Texas, USA, a resident reported finding purple blobs of slime in her yard after a meteor shower.
Researchers at the time investigated and found that a local battery recycling plant might produce a purple byproduct. However, the material didn't quite match, as the byproduct was solid whereas star jelly is gelatinous.
In 1926, a sample collected led some to believe that star jelly was frog spawn. This was because scientists at the time found tissue resembling oviducts or ovaries in the gel, suggesting it originated from the digestive tract and bladder of frogs.
This speculation has some merit. When amphibians are ready to lay eggs, the eggs in their oviducts are encased in a jelly-like coating, known as egg jelly.
Researchers found that this jelly coating on the eggs might serve multiple purposes, releasing chemicals to attract and guide sperm towards the eggs. Studies on a species of Albanian water frog suggest that this "jelly" is crucial for sperm, making them more active.
This is a gelatinous substance containing amphibian eggs.
This jelly-like substance is primarily composed of glycoproteins and peptides. Research suggests that one type of polysaccharide derived from algae may play a crucial role in fertilization. Additionally, this algal polysaccharide has been found to have other benefits, such as anti-thrombotic and antioxidant properties.
If star jelly is indeed some substance expelled by frogs, it seems plausible. In 2013, a veterinarian believed so upon discovering star jelly. He noted that female frogs do release some jelly-like substance when attacked, which, when hydrated on damp ground, turns into the mysterious star jelly.
However, there have been other discoveries and speculations. In 2019, a couple in the US found a large pile of gelatinous material in their yard. "If this is related to frogs, it must be from a gigantic frog."
The "star jelly" discovered by this couple seems to be quite abundant. Some speculate that it could be a synthetic gel-like substance that absorbs water and expands, similar to water beads, which are made of sodium polyacrylate, a highly absorbent polymer capable of holding large amounts of water within a network structure through hydrogen bonds.
These highly absorbent polymers have various applications, such as in diapers, ice packs, and flame retardants. They can also be used in agriculture to enhance soil water retention and even as "magic crystals" (colored hydrogel containing nutrients needed for plants).
Other speculations about star jelly suggest a connection to cyanobacteria. Common cyanobacteria can appear gelatinous in humid conditions, earning them the nickname "angel's tears." They are incredibly resilient and can survive even in extremely dry conditions, while also being able to fix nitrogen. Additionally, some types of cyanobacteria, like spirulina, are edible.
Due to their high protein and vitamin C content, as well as their ability to thrive in extreme conditions, cyanobacteria are considered potential candidates for cultivation and consumption in extraterrestrial environments.
This is common Chlorella.
Apart from cyanobacteria, star jelly might also be slime molds. Many strange slime molds in nature may appear as colorful gelatinous substances. After drying, wind and rain can scatter these dispersed spores everywhere.
However, these are all just speculations by scientists. Some have even reported witnessing gelatinous, transparent substances falling from the sky like raindrops. Some say it's a form of pollution, bird vomit, but no definitive answer has been reached.
This is a slime mold.
However, regardless, when exploring what star jelly really is, this sticky substance is common in both nature and our lives. Perhaps specific analysis can only be conducted the next time we truly encounter star jelly.
Have you ever come across strange substances in nature? Feel free to comment below!
References
[1] Oregon Live: 4 people fall ill after trusting "mushroom expert" foraging tips
[2] CNN Health: Dangerous mushrooms lookalike could be spreading in US, experts say
[3] CNN Health: Dangerous mushrooms lookalike could be spreading in US, experts say
[4] Public Citizen: AI-generated mushroom foraging books on Amazon are a poison risk
[5] 404 Media: AI-generated mushroom foraging books on Amazon are a poison risk
[6] Tumblr: Rebecca the Naturalist
[7] Gizmodo: Google's AI Answers on Slavery Benefits Are Still Terrible
[8] Taylor & Francis Online: AI in Health Communication: A Systematic Review
Planning and Production
Source: Bring Science Home (ID: steamforkids)
Author: Skin
Editor: Zhong Yanping
Proofreader: Xu Lai, Lin Lin
