Mysterious "white web" found growing on nuclear waste in spent fuel pool

[bananas]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2097115/Could-Spider-Man-reality-Bizarre-white-cobweb-nuclear-waste-come-mutant-spider.html

Could Spider-Man become a reality? Bizarre white cobweb found on nuclear waste that could have come from a 'mutant' spider

By TED THORNHILL
Last updated at 2:05 PM on 6th February 2012

Scientists are investigating a bizarre white cobweb found on nuclear waste - amid fears it could have been made by a 'mutant' spider.

In a freakish echo of the Spider-Man comic strip, workers at a U.S nuclear waste facility discovered the growth on uranium last month.

The white 'string-like' material - never seen before on nuclear waste - was found among thousands of spent fuel assemblies submerged in deep pools.

<snip>

A report filed by the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board - a federal oversight panel - concluded: ‘The
growth, which resembles a spider web, has yet to be characterised, but may be biological in nature.’

<snip>



Mysterious: The top of the uranium fuel assembly where a white cobweb like material has been found

Reported by the Augusta Chronicle in December:

http://m.io9.com/5868883/mysterious-white-webs-found-growing-on-nuclear-waste

Mysterious "white web" found growing on nuclear waste

By Robert T. Gonzalez, Dec 16, 2011

This is as fascinating as it is unsettling. Scientists at the
Department of Energy's Savannah River Site — a
nuclear reservation in South Carolina — have
identified a strange, cob-web like "growth" (their word,
not ours) on the racks of the facility's spent nuclear
fuel assemblies.

According to a report filed by the Defense Nuclear
Facilities Safety Board, "the growth, which resembles a
spider web, has yet to be characterized, but may be
biological in nature."

The Augusta Chronicle reported today that the "white,
string-like" material was discovered amidst thousands
of the spent fuel assemblies, which are submerged in
deep nuclear storage pools within SRS's L Area
Complex.

<snip>

I don't know what's more intriguing — the fact that
the "growth" resembles a spider web, the fact that it
may be biological in nature, or the fact that (even after
collecting a sample of the stuff) we still don't know
what it is or where it came from.

<snip>

[Miqqyy]

1. Morgellons disease attacks nuclear-industrial complex?

Weird shit. Thanks a crapload nuclear geniuses.

[glinda]

6. That is exactly what came to mind for me also.

[Miqqyy]

11. But since Morgellons "doesn't exist" according to 'science'

no doubt this weird nuclear Morgellons shit "doesn't exist" either. Undoubtedly this report is just another whackjob anti-science plot. There ain't nothin to worry about.

[Hissyspit]

2. o.k. that's...

creepy as hell.

[xchrom]

3. ...

[liberal N proud]

4. We have no clue what this stuff is doing to the world

Not enough time to really understand the effects of all this nuclear fuel.

[Little Star]

5. Yikes! n/t

[freeplessinseattle]

15. My first thought, too. gah! one of my worst nightmares n/t

[d_r]

7. have to love the daily mail

[wtmusic]

8. Cool

Here comes mama.

[TalkingDog]

9. It's condensate of time.

... or not.

[DCKit]

10. Minerals in the water + gamma rays? Just a thought. nt

[NBachers]

12. Natto

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natt%C5%8D

[Yo_Mama]

13. They're building a special piece of equipment to gather it and analyze it

http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/metro/2011-12-22/savannah-river-site-scientists-plan-harvest-nuclear-waste-growths

In December they thought they could get the sample by the end of January:

“We won’t have the info on the origins and identity of the material until we get a larger sample to analyze,” said Angie French, a spokeswoman for Savannah River National Laboratory, which is conducting the inquiry. “We expect to be able to get that sample in late January.”

I foresee a new growth industry for GA (which needs one) - nuclear cotton.

Possibly those Santorum vests are made out of this substance - rumor has it that it gives him strange magical powers in primaries.

More seriously, my guess is a fungus?

[Dragonbreathp9d]

14. Mycellium, perhaps? Those would be potent-