On May 5, 11:55*am, Larry L wrote:

I saw on the News Hour last night that there are many natural oil
seeps on the floor of the Gulf

Never heard that before.....but it comes as no surprise. There are
many natural oil seeps in many places in the world and have been since
the dawn of history. Don't recall specifics, but it seems to me I've
encountered scholarship quoting references to such from just about
every ancient culture that had an ancient recorded history.*

and bacteria and tiny plants that have
evolved to feed on that oil. Again, I had no clue.

Ditto. Oh, I knew that some tiny critters had been ENGINEERED to feed
on that oil.....but this is the first I've heard of any that evolved
to do so naturally. But it comes as no surprise. Hey, after learning
that there are numerous species living on and about volcanic stacks
thousands of feet below sea level at enormous pressures in
environments exceeding 600 degrees (and, really, at anything much
above the boiling point of water {at STP} the difference between C.
and F. is kinda moot, ainna?) what's left that can have much shock
value, ainna?

And, again, I wish that it wasn't such a disaster fueling my
increasing knowledge of things oily

Well, wish away.....but having one's interest piqued by disaster is
better than not, no?

giles
* yeah, i know.....it's redundant. but most people don't know that
and......well, it gets complicated. best to stick to the formula
unless someone asks.....or objects. the latter is much more
fun.....which is a good thing because the former rarely happens.