The Oakville Blobs — Gelatinous Substance Rains From Sky and Causes Illness

On August 7, 1994, residents of Oakville, Washington reported that a gelatinous, translucent blob-like substance fell from the sky during a rainstorm, covering a 20-square-mile area. The substance fell on at least six separate occasions over a three-week period. People and animals who came into contact with it became ill. A local officer who handled some of the substance developed extreme fatigue, dizziness, and shortness of breath that persisted for several months. Residents' pets and animals died after the falls. A woman who had scooped some of the substance into a bag and stored it in her refrigerator showed it to her doctor, who had it analyzed. The first analysis reportedly found human white blood cells in the substance. Further analysis sent to the Washington State Department of Health and to the Washington Department of Ecology produced inconclusive results. One laboratory found the substance contained human white blood cells; another could not replicate the finding. The military denied involvement. Speculation about the origin of the substance included secret military tests, medical waste from aircraft, and microbial sea matter dispersed by storm systems. The US Air Force was conducting bombing exercises off the Pacific Coast at the time. The Oakville Blobs were featured in the television series Unsolved Mysteries. No definitive explanation was ever established.