Nature is designed for balance

A new report from the gulf oil spill was not widely distributed. A microbe capable of surviving and flourishing in sub 80 water was identified. This microbe eats oil without depleting oxygen in the water column.

For over twenty years oil eating microbes have been used to remediate underground spills. Usually mechanical assistance is needed. These microbes go into near hibernation at the typical 56 underground temperature. Hot air is pumped down to invigorate the microbes. These microbes also use oxygen to facilitate their digestion. In fact without oxygen they may refuse to eat. So it is common to infuse the hot air with pure oxygen.

The gulf microbe is slightly different. It either draws oxygen from the air or metabolizes water freeing the hydrogen and using the oxygen. Metabolization is the probable method since that would result in methane as the oil molecule is reduced to atomic levels. The microbe doesn't need heating since it can use direct sunlight to facilitate chemical reaction with the oil.

It should not be a surprise that the microbe exist. Oil releases from natural sources to the gulf surface are common. The BP spill quantity far exceeded normal releases. Microbes have a very short gestation period. Once an abundant food source, the spill, was found it began eating and reproducing. Thus, reaching population density to be discovered as a new microbe strain.

Don't worry about microbe pollution now that the spill is gone. They will either go dormant or disintegrate to atomic levels.

Once again proof God's intelligent design, from microscopic microbes to acres of wetland, doesn't need man's intervention to keep the world clean. God gave man intelligence and reasoning, so to use those skills to assist is expected. To use those skills to predict calamity is unmitigated arrogance.