Weird News of the Day: Illness Causing Starfish to Rip Themselves Into Pieces

A disease, called "sea star wasting syndrome" has been ravaging at least 12 different species of starfish across the West Coast, according to PBS.

NPR reports that, because the syndrome doesn't show signs of spreading across the globe, scientists don't think it will lead to the end of all starfish kind. But, researchers are racing to figure out what exactly is wrong and minimize the damage.

Right now, the main theory is that a boat carried a pathogen over to the West Coast. The theory is supported by hotspots of the illness being directly in line with major shipping routes.