London, Feb 6: The mysterious blue balls which 'rained' down on a Dorset garden were merely a common substance found in nappies, scientists have claimed.
Following Steve Hornsby's discovery of the small blue globules, after a hailstorm last week, some unusual explanations have been put forward about the find, reports Daily Mail.
Researchers at Bournemouth University had speculated that the small blue balls may be marine invertebrate eggs which could be transferred from the feet of birds.
But following further consideration the same group of scientists told The Guardian they have solved the puzzle.
Research assistant Josie Pegg confirmed the substance was sodium polyacrylate, sometimes used in gardening or agriculture to improve soil, as well as being used in nappies.
She said 'Speculation on the nature of the mystery jelly balls has provided much entertainment, but now that we have possession of a sample we can rule out some of the early guesses.
'Having examined the balls under a high-powered microscope, we can discount living material.'
Although it is still not known how the substance made its way into Mr Hornsby's garden in Bournemouth, Pegg added 'Perhaps someone was having a clear-out and chucked them over the fence.
One possible explanation for the dozen small spheres, which are 3cm in diameter, being found in the garden however, is that the heavy rain turned effectively invisible dry crystals into the gel-like blue balls.
Having collected the strange objects in a jar Hornsby told the BBC that before they emerged the sky turned an unusual dark yellow colour before the storm began.
The former aircraft engineer said at the time 'As I walked outside to go to the garage there was an instant hail storm for a few seconds and I thought, 'what's that in the grass?'
'It is very jelly-like and it is almost impossible to pick up.
'They have an exterior shell with a softer inner but have no smell, aren't sticky and do not melt.'
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