The strange sea foam that washed ashore on Australia’s beaches in New South Wales in December 2020 was a gift that kept on giving. Storms churned up the mix of “seawater . . . algae, salts, fats and pollutants” that created the “thick layer of foam” that spread over the surface of the water.
Weird in itself, the foam also brought a variety of other bizarre objects to the beaches, including “deadly” sea snakes, giant spiders, trees, logs, and even “half a cow.” A dog had to be rescued from the foam, and “authorities . . . warned tourists and locals to keep away from these beaches and avoid swimming at all cost to ensure [their] safety.”