What is this stuff ? Image Credit: University of Minnesota Duluth

The pitch-black, tar-like substance resembled something out of an episode of ‘The X-Files’.

The strangeness began when a research boat known as the Blue Heron started experiencing mechanical difficulties during a trip to Lake Erie and was dry-docked for repairs.

While investigating the issue, Captain Rual Lee discovered a strange thick, black tar-like substance that seemed to be oozing out of the rudder.

Unable to determine what it was, he sent a sample to the University of Minnesota Duluth.

When researchers analyzed the substance, they discovered that it contained 20 DNA sequences and while many could be identified, several were completely novel and unknown to science.

They concluded that the substance – now known as ‘ShipGoo1’ – is a single-celled organism.

Its precise nature and origins, however, remain a mystery.

“The biggest surprise was that the ship goo had life in it at all,” said lead researcher Cody Sheik.

“We thought we’d find nothing. But surprisingly, we found DNA and it wasn’t too destroyed, nor was the biomass too low.”

Unsurprisingly, news of the discovery quickly generated a great deal of debate on social media, with many users comparing the goo to that from 90s TV show The X-Files.

Some also compared it to the substance in Ridley Scott’s Prometheus.

At least in this case, however, we won’t have to worry about it turning anyone into an alien xenomorph… probably.