Residents of Oklahoma found a mysterious hard sac-like ‘egg’ hanging from the tree roots at the lake, but scientists are now calming the locals, who immediately jumped to conclusions of alien proportions, by explaining that it’s an ancient creature
These creatures have found the right space and environment, so its likely they’ll be around a lot this summer.
Locals in Oklahoma discovered large, jelly-like sacs with a hard exterior hanging from tree roots; they immediately thought the answer was extraterrestrial. Or at least not good news.
But scientists, reassuring the public, have said that the locals in the area got a rare treat – the glimpse of the reproductive system of an ancient animal that’s been around since before the dinosaurs.
Immediately, locals put it up online, and spectators began commenting on the extraterrestrial-looking eggs. But scientists say that the creatures were simple bryozoans. They’ve been around for hundreds of millions of years, before the first dinosaurs roamed the planet. The animals may actually be good news for the lake.
These bizarre creatures are actually hundreds of tiny bryozoans.
Officials reassured the public that the animals are absolutely supposed to be there
Bryozoans clone themselves into large masses to filter tiny particles out of the water for food, cleaning up the lake. The critters normally reside in ponds and lakes. This time, it was found in McGee Creek Reservoir, located on the southwest edge of the Ouachita Mountain Range.
Bryozoan clumps aren’t an egg or just one animal at all. They form this hard shell as they are hundreds of creatures banded together. The pods, known as zooids, are each a fraction of a millimeter long. They lack any respiratory or circulatory systems, but their central nerve ganglion allows the animal to respond to stimuli.
These pods are hanging from tree roots, and actually help clean the lake
The tiny invertebrates possess both male and female reproductive organs, allowing them to self-clone and spread through clumps of cells on the organism known as statoblasts.
Each statoblast can reproduce asexually. They do this by breaking off from a colony, allowing the animal to reproduce rapidly if the space and the weather are suitable. The animals eat phytoplankton and bacteria lurking in water.
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Fossil records suggest they may have evolved from an ancient marine worm. Their grandparents, ancient bryozoans, date back as far as 470 million years. For perspective, dinosaurs came around 245 million years ago.
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) shared the photos on social media. “What is that??? If you’re out boating somewhere like McGee Creek Reservoir you may notice these strange jelly-like balls hanging from submerged tree limbs,” begins the post.
“These are Bryozoans, and they’ll likely show up in large numbers this summer. Don’t be alarmed these microorganisms are native and are of no danger to you or wildlife. In fact, they are an indicator of good environmental quality and clear water!”
It’s Been A Rough Few Years For Simon Cowell, And They Changed His Life
Simon Cowell has experienced multiple health issues as a result of two separate bicycle accidents that occurred over a two-year period.
Simon and the other judges from America’s Got Talent openly acknowledged these instances during their recent appearance on the Today Show. The show’s hosts were Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel, and Terry Crews.
The 64-year-old celebrity experienced the same fate when pedalling about London in early 2022 after falling from his e-bike in Malibu in 2020.
Simon was questioned about how these losses had changed his perspective on life in a promotional piece for the forthcoming 18th season of America’s Got Talent.
When asked how he felt physically before the tragedies, he replied, “wasn’t in the best shape before the mishaps, so they were far from terrific, rather quite terrible.” I didn’t understand how unsuited I truly was until the healing process.
And then he said, “It was a revelation, a true god’ moment!” Simon saw his unwavering zeal for riding and remarked that he believed everything happened for a reason.
He exclaimed, “I’m not giving up on my bike,” much to the delight of his fellow actors. I can’t get enough of these amazing inventions.
After the second incident, Simon was taken to the hospital, where he was found to have a broken arm and a concussion.
London,England,27th August 2014 : Simon Cowell attends The X Factor – press launch at The Ham Yard Hotel in London. Photo by See Li
Although the second crash wasn’t as bad as the first, it nevertheless resulted in him breaking his back and necessitated him wearing a wrist brace for several months. After these incidents, Simon changed his lifestyle, notably for the benefit of his son Eric, who is nine years old. Simon’s fiancée Lauren Silverman served as motivation.
In an interview with The Sun in April of last year, he discussed dealing with the fallout from his e-bike accident.
He remarked, “I was in such a terrible place when I fractured my back that I considered going to therapy for the first time in my life.”
I was miserable because I couldn’t express how I was feeling to Eric. I wondered when I would be able to resume activities with him, like playing football and taking walks.
Eric was born to Simon and Lauren on February 14, 2014. After his bike accidents, the TV celebrity claimed that his child had come up with a humorous new nickname for him.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, the Britain’s Got Talent judge acknowledged that he felt “embarrassed” after watching the episodes at home.
After surgery, Simon’s back is held together by metal rods and screws, but he took comfort in the fact that his kid made a comparison between him and the well-known superhero Iron Man.
Simon joked back to the pair, “After hurting my back, I got to the point where I would go around the garden with Eric, believing it was a fantastic accomplishment. Nonetheless, I couldn’t stop myself from doing it without thinking, “Maybe not such a great idea!”
Simon’s path of fortitude and reflection serves as evidence of the unbreakable determination that propels him ahead.
Despite the difficulties caused by the bicycle accidents, he keeps up his excitement for cycling and for life in general, while still finding humour in his misadventures.
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