Where did the green 'alien eggs' come from? Scientists baffled by unidentified floating objects that washed up on a Sydney beach

By MAY SLATER FOR DAILY MAIL AUS

Beach-goers describe green 'alien hairballs' washed up on a Sydney's Dee Why Beach

The strange round objects are thought to be a rare type of living algae, brought ashore by warmer weather and rough conditions

Scientists think the algae might form into balls to protect itself from hungry fish

Visitors from outer space or a natural phenomena? Surfers and early morning walkers were stunned to find thousands of 'alien eggs' on a Sydney beach this weekend.

Locals in Dee Why, on the city's North Shore, reported seeing a large number of the strange objects which had washed ashore overnight.

But rather than the green spheres being something from another planet, scientists explained they were a type of sponge-like seaweed that forms egg shapes possibly to protect themselves from predators.  

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The mysterious green 'alien eggs' strewn across Sydney's Dee Why Beach

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Locals said they'd never seen anything like the green algae balls that washed ashore at Dee Why this week

Beach-goers said they'd never seen anything like it, describing the balls as 'alien eggs, 'alien hairballs', Japanese moss balls and UFOs (Unidentified Floating Objects).

'About three days ago, there were a few egg-shaped balls but then today, they were much bigger and everywhere on the beach,' Naraweena resident Jenny Zhang told The Manly Daily. 

Scarlett de Villiers from nearby Davidson saw the weird balls on her regular morning beach walk.

'It was a windy day with a very high tide. I picked one up and squeezed it and it was so squishy - but I wasn't sure if it was alive and was worried I might hurt anything inside!' she told the Daily Mail. 'It struck me how perfectly shaped they all were and how green and alive they looked.'

Associate Professor Alistair Poore from the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of NSW said the balls were probably a rare type of living green algae, which has only been seen a handful of times around the world. 

'Alien' algae explained

The balls are thought to be an extremely rare species of filamentous green algae.

The living organisms are known in Japan as 'Marumo' and Cladophora ball or Lake ball in English, and are sometimes found in freshwater lakes in the Northern Hemisphere.

‘Aegagropilious’ describes the habit of free living algae (algae not attached to rocks) forming into balls.  

Floating algae balls are thought to be brought ashore by warmer weather and the rough wave conditions.

It's unknown why the algae forms into balls. One hypothesis is that a ball-shape helps protect the algae from hungry fish, another that it may help them roll back into the water and avoid drying out when they wash ashore. 

'I’ve seen similar things - sometimes dead sea grass can roll around and form balls like underwater tumbleweeds but that’s made of dead material and these look to be living,' he told The Manly Daily. 

'It is a habit known as "aegagropilious", where the algae is free living (not on rocks) and forms into spherical balls.'

The Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust’s Alan Millar said the algae balls made their way to the beach with the right biophysical conditions, but that these conditions don't align every Spring.

'It’s clearly another response to spring sunshine, and just the right wave conditions to tumble them,' said Mr Millar.

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'Alien hairballs': The sponge like sea balls are thought to be rare living algae, sometimes seen in freshwater lakes in the Northern Hemisphere

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Scientists think the algae forms into balls to protect itself from fish and other predators or so that they can roll back into the sea when washed ashore

It's the second unusual natural spectacle to hit Sydney's Beaches in a matter of weeks. Last month, the waves at Manly Beach were lit up a fluorescent blue for three nights by 'agitated' phytoplankton, apparently signalling the start of Spring.

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Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2763283/Where-did-green-alien-eggs-come-Scientists-baffled-UFOs-Unidentified-Floating-Objects-washed-Sydney-beach.html#ixzz3DzRxg8s3
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Super Heat: Josh Kerr, Kelly Slater, John John Florence - Oakley Pro Bali

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Kahuna Bay

Surfer takes on 'biggest wave ever ridden' after storm

By Josie Ensor

A surfer may have set the world record for the largest wave ever surfed after riding an estimated 100ft wave off the coast of Portugal

 IN PICS: Has Burle broken McNamara's 'biggest wave' record?

Brazilian Carlos Burle took on the monster wave - created by the St Jude storm - at Praia do Norte, near the fishing village of Nazare. Estimated at nearly 100ft, it is believed to be the biggest wave ever ridden.

>> Read more: How a 100ft wave is created

^{Brazilian big wave surfer Carlos Burle rides a wave in Nazare (AFP/Getty Images)}

The surf was generated by the same storm that battered Europe and the UK overnight, killing 11 and causing extensive damage.

The beach is well-known in surfing circles as a mecca for large waves because it picks up the full brunt of the violent Atlantic storm swells.

Mr Burle was with fellow surfer Maya Gabeira, also from Brazil, who was knocked unconscious by the stong waves and nearly drowned.

She was dragged onto shore and given medical attention on the beach before being taken to hospital. She is reportedly doing well and only sustained a broken ankle.

Mr Burle said: "At one stage there was a bit of shouting and screaming. Everyone was so excited you know, and I was just shouting back at them, telling them that it’s just another big day, that everyone had to stay focused."

"It was luck. We never know when we will be catching the wave. I still hadn't surfed any wave and everyone had already had their rides. Maya almost died," he told Surfer Today. "For me, it was a big adrenaline moment to get back there after what happened."

^{English surfer Andrew Cotton rides a big wave at the Praia do Norte (AP)}

According to Guinness World Records, Garret McNamara from Hawaii holds the record with a 78ft wave surfed at the very same spot in Nazare in Nov. 1 2011.

Briton Andrew Cotton, 34, of North Devon - who is a part-time professional surfer and lifeguard - took on some of the smaller waves yesterday.

Mr Cotton and his team-mate McNamara were in the water before light at 6am, along with scores of other surfers all trying to ride the biggest wave.

6 Rad Beaches That’ll Inspire You To Surf

posted on June 20, 2013 at 1:48pm EDT

 These gnarly beaches aren’t just for computer backgrounds — they’re also great for adrenaline rushes. We bet it will only take six seconds before you want to grab a wave or catch up on some sun.

 

1. The sick Pipeline in O’ahu, Hawaii.

The Banzai Pipeline on O’ahu’s North Shore is considered the best surfing in the world and also the most dangerous, with waves over 12 feet high. Do you have what it takes to surf here??? If not, it’s also a great place to soak up some sun and watch others ride the epic waves.

 

 

 

 

 

2. Supertubes in Jeffreys Bay, South Africa

Other than the exotic and beautiful surroundings, the long rides of Jeffreys Bay make it a phenomenal spot for boarding. Surfers can look forward to up to 300 meters of sweet ocean cruising.

 

   

 

3. The sunny beaches of Bali, Indonesia.

There are two surfing destination points in Bali—Uluwatu and Kuta. Uluwatu is for the big leagues and the locals, while Kuta is better for beginners who want to take their first dip. 

 

Source: Brent Fitzgerald  /  via: flickr.com

 

 

 

4. The tubes of Gold Coast, Australia.

It can be a trek getting to the best surfing spots along the Gold Coast in Queensland, but the epic tubes make the journey worth it.

 

Image by Kirstin Scholtz / Getty Images

 

 

 

 

5. The monster waves of Mavericks, California.

The 25-meter high waves at Mavericks in Northern California are caused by storms at sea, making it arguably as dangerous as the O’ahu Pipeline. This is for experts only.  

 

Source: UltraView Admin  /  via: flickr.com

 

 

  

6. The stoney shores of Lima, Peru.

Though Lima’s beaches are not known for being comfortable, it is a place where there are waves for every skill level.  

 Image by Thomas Cristofoletti / Getty Images

Gabriel Medina lucky?

Gabriel Medina: Thirteen is an unlucky number to some, but I don’t believe in luck. We make our own luck, and Medina has been working his ass off his entire life, preparing for the moment when his incredible consistency will come through in a pinch—when a big heat, contest, or world title is on the line. We've already seen him win the big heats, and contests, the world title is his next goal—anything less will be a letdown in his career.

Hangin' in Newport Beach

Newport Beach is made of opposing pieces, sewn together like Dr. Frankenstein’s monster. Crusty old surfers carry sun-yellowed boards down the beach searching for waves, while affluent housewives lay on the sand in a Xanax-induced haze, killing time between collagen injections. With the amount of exposure Newport receives, and the fact that it has more pro surfers per capita than anywhere else on earth, you might expect consistently good waves—but you’d only be half right. There’s usually something to ride in front of the thousands of vacation rentals lining the coast between Crystal Cove and the Del Mar River Jetties, but paddling out will seldom be a life-changing experience. The surf industry loves Newport because it is the industry’s playground. When evenings run late, you’re seldom concerned with the surf at sunrise.

Alex Knost chugs through his hometown in a mildly-creepy van, scouring the coast for waves in the early hours, and always with interesting (and often self-shaped) crafts in tow. On this particular summer morning, I met up with Alex and fellow log-master Jared Mell in the parking lot at Blackie’s. It was mid-morning and the lifeguards were perched like dubious sentries—megaphones in their hands, and a desire to blackball in their hearts. In an hour the ocean would be overrun with inland adventurers and kids with neon water wings.

The scene was typical for this time of year in Newport: slightly bumpy, mostly gutless rights and lefts with a fair amount of people bobbing through the lineup, vaguely interested in their present activity. But therein lies the advantage to riding a single-fin plank. Alex and Jared split peaks, sliding their logs over flat sections like cubes of butter across hot frying pans. They’re stylish nearly to the point of parody, but were clearly having the best time of anyone in the lineup. Alex stood up on a wave, cross-stepped to the nose, turned around and hung his heels over, before nimbly moving back to the tail and whipping a smooth carve. Jared did one better than a fin-first takeoff, stroking backwards on his stomach into a left-hander with his feet toward the beach. He stood up as the board rotated and kept complete control as he spun around and started his line.

The piercing distortion of a lifeguard’s megaphone ended our session, and sent us off in pursuit of lunch. We went to Mother’s Market in Costa Mesa where we were joined by several of Al and Jared’s friends. It was health-conscious fare, where organic sprouts and kale-infused smoothies abound. We left with the intention of a second session, but the wind had picked up and what was playful mediocrity an hour before had mutated into full-blown dog shit.

Luckily, a foolproof coping mechanism came to mind, and we headed to a local pub for a few pitchers of Sierra Nevada, and discussed the best way to kill time in the Newport area.

Waves:

Although Newport is most consistent during the winter, its exposure to both north and south swells means there are usually rideable waves somewhere year-round. “I usually surf in front of Ford [Archbold]’s house, at River Jetties,” says Alex. “The shape isn’t necessarily as good as 54th Street, so, if you’re reading this, you probably don’t want to go there. There are less people at River Jetties, but it also gets really swamped out with the high tide. It gets too high tide for people to ride your average shortboard, but it works out pretty good for flat rockers and single fins—you can surf through the high tide and it won’t be as crowded. It’s a little more closed out at River Jetties, but there’s more face, so it’s easier to ride bigger boards, whereas 54th street has such a compressed take-off spot. So, if you’re riding bigger boards, you can’t help to feel some sort of an inconvenience. I usually surf River Jetties or Newport Point. Newport Point gets really good, but it’s probably the least consistent wave, in terms of getting it really good. If there’s wind swell, Newport is kind of the place to be in some weird way. You surf a lot of other areas that are really nice during long-period swells, but Newport gets pretty closed-out on those. Wind swell helps break it up and make it peaky.”

Sustenance:

Newport and Costa Mesa are joined at the hip, and between the two there are more quaint cafés than you can shake a vegan scone at. “I go to Mother’s after surfing usually. They have good food, and I have friends that work there, so it’s nice to visit them. The food there seems to give you a little bit more momentum for the rest of the day, rather than eating a giant burrito that puts the day on hold—you don’t really feel like doing much of anything after that. Mother’s has some food that gives you some fuel. It’s more like food and less like eating, you know? But there’s also lots of like really nice coffee shops. Alta down in Newport is pretty good. If you want to stay near the beach, they opened up a couple of expensive spots, but then there’s also really cheap donut places, which are nice for coffee, bananas, bran muffins, and stuff like that.”

After Hours:

Anyone who has ever spent a weekend in Newport will tell you that it’s a town that loves its booze. Alex is an early-riser, but he knows where to find a good time after the sun goes down. “I like going to Blackie’s, just because that’s where my Dad goes,” says Alex. “But if you’re looking for the nightlife action, it’s probably not there. Jared loves going to Cassidy’s. I live in Costa Mesa so I tend to go out up the hill and see live music. Avalon bar has really great live bands that come through there. I think that’s probably the easiest and they have cheap drinks—like one- or two-dollar Pabst. There’s a pool hall down the street here in Costa Mesa, on 19th street, called Games Plus. They have two-dollar Tecate Tuesdays, and they’ve got tons of pool tables, so that kind of makes for a nice social time.”