'Jelly invasion' at Somerset nature reserve baffles scientists

RSPB officials said the slime bore the appearance of "something living" - and the public have been warned not to touch any of the pools of slime.

By Rob Waugh | Yahoo! News

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  View PhotoThe clear jelly has baffled experts so far, with explanations including the idea it is the regurgitated innards of frogs, or 'crystal brain fungus'.

A weird "slime" has invaded a British nature park - and RSPB experts have appealed for help in identifying the mysterious substance. RSPB officials said the slime bore the appearance of "something living" - and the public have been warned not to touch any of the pools of slime. 

Local folklore suggests that the jelly appears in the wake of meteor showers. The jelly-like substance has been found at the RSPB Ham Wall Nature reserve in Somerset.

[Related: First meteorite fragments 'found' after Russian blast]

Steve Hughes, the RSPB site manager at Ham Wall, said: "This past week we've been finding piles of this translucent jelly dotted around the reserve. Always on grass banks away from the water's edge. They are usually about 10cm (4in) in diameter. We've asked experts what it might be, but as yet no one is really sure. Whatever it is, it's very weird."

Scientific speculation as to the nature of the jelly is varied - one of the more favoured explanations is that it is a form of cyanobacteria called Nostoc.

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