The ocean has once again washed ashore thousands of mysterious black balls, leaving everyone puzzled about their origin and purpose.

About three months ago, scientists reported the appearance of mysterious black spheres along the coast of New South Wales. Researchers traveled to beaches in the eastern suburbs of Sydney to collect samples, which they then analyzed in the laboratory. Now, three months after the initial discovery, the enigmatic dark spheres have reappeared, and no one knows what they are, according to Lab Online.

Preliminary analysis by scientists indicated that the mysterious balls found on the beaches back in October 2024 might be "resinous balls"—dark, spherical, sticky droplets formed from weathered oil that have appeared on coastlines around the globe for decades.

However, further test results revealed that the spheres primarily contain fatty acids, a small amount of petroleum hydrocarbons, and other materials, including human hair, various fibers, and bacteria associated with wastewater. At the same time, the latest tests showed that the hydrocarbons in the spheres resembled intermediate or heavy fuel oils commonly used in shipping. In simple terms, the origin of these mysterious spheres remains unknown.

In a new study, scientists examined weather conditions and ocean currents in the days leading up to the appearance of the dark spheres on the coast. This was an attempt to determine whether the spheres could have originated from a marine fuel spill, but no convincing data was found. Analysis results also indicate that there were no issues with wastewater treatment facilities at the time the mysterious spheres appeared on Australian beaches.

Ultimately, Stephen Beaman, the Executive Director of Regulatory Practice and Services at the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority, stated that experts have been unable to trace the formation of the mysterious black spheres to any specific incident or source.

Later, researchers collected additional samples of the mysterious spheres, and the study results showed that their composition was similar to those previously discovered along the Australian coast. Subsequently, the enigmatic droplets were found at the eastern end of the beach in Cornella in early December, and shortly thereafter, they were discovered on two beaches on the South Coast.

Now, the Environment Agency has announced the resumption and expansion of the investigation into the causes of the appearance of the debris balls, with Operations Director Adam Gilligan stating that a team of technical experts on pollution and specialists will explore all avenues of the investigation, including potential links between various incidents.

Experts note that investigating environmental pollution incidents is extremely complex; however, scientists will continue their work to explore all potential sources. Researchers plan to analyze all possible terrestrial causes, such as sewage and stormwater systems, as well as marine sources, including cruise ships or other vessels. Scientists are also considering waste discharge into stormwater as one of the hypotheses.

Preliminary test results from the Northern Beaches Council revealed the presence of hydrocarbons in the debris, while later results indicated the presence of saturated fatty acids, fecal coliforms, and E. coli. The Environment Agency will compare its own samples with those collected by the Council.