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Newly Discovered Bacteria Could Aid Oil Cleanup

Posted by Soulskill on from the quick-somebody-come-up-with-a-stupid-name dept.

suraj.sun passes along news from Oregon State University, where researchers have discovered a new strain of bacteria that may be able to aid cleanup efforts in the Gulf of Mexico. The bacteria "can produce non-toxic, comparatively inexpensive 'rhamnolipids,' and effectively help degrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs — environmental pollutants that are one of the most harmful aspects of oil spills. Because of its unique characteristics, this new bacterial strain could be of considerable value in the long-term cleanup of the massive Gulf Coast oil spill, scientists say." In related news, Kevin Costner's centrifugal separator technology has gotten approval for deployment; now it is only waiting on funding from BP.

6 of 167 comments (clear)

  1. They don't need bacteria by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I heard that Cane Toads soak up oil at 10 times the rate.

  2. Re:problem is with collecting, not separating by beakerMeep · · Score: 4, Funny

    If Kevin Costner was selling a machine that can suck up cubic miles of water, that would be newsworthy

    Must.....resist.....Waterworld.....joke....

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    meep
  3. The REAL Reason... by chill · · Score: 2, Funny

    The REAL reason Kevin Costner waited this long to release this isn't government testing. His arch nemesis, The Deacon (Dennis Hopper), just died, removing the last hurdle by getting the smokers out of the way.

    --
    Learning HOW to think is more important than learning WHAT to think.
  4. Re:This mess is just too much by Surt · · Score: 3, Funny

    Whack jobs. I mean seriously, who lives there post katrina?

    --
    "Who is the Journal of Quantum Physics going to believe?" --Stephen Hawking
  5. Re:Lousy idea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I promise I will personally take the blame if anything should go wrong.

    - AC

  6. Re:This mess is just too much by maxume · · Score: 2, Funny

    Many of them aren't even people, they are Floridians.

    --
    Nerd rage is the funniest rage.