Australia's Cappuccino-Like Sea Foam Is Out Of This World

Cappuccino foam belongs in a coffee cup, right? In Australia, the ocean is trying to give baristas a run for their money. Down under, Aussies on coastal towns of the East Coast sometimes experience one of the world's strangest phenomenons: fluffy cappuccino sea foam.  

Once every decade or so, an Australian beach town gets covered in sea foam. This is caused by the ocean getting churned up by a storm out at sea. If the water contains high concentrations of offshore algal blooms, the compounds get shaken up and act as foaming agents. The result is fluffy foam that gets pushed onshore by wind. Coupled with higher sea levels that occur after a storm, sometimes towns are flooded with foamy sea water that reaches halfway up buildings. It usually takes a day or two for the foam to dissolve, and it's safe to frolic in. Check out the stunning GIFs below of Australian coastal towns like Yamba and Maroochydore that have been inundated by cappuccino sea foam. 

After more weird science stories? Have a look at this city designed for Mars that's being built in the Dubai desert. 

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