JUNEAU-According to reports, the orange goo that mysteriously appeared on Kivalina beaches last week have been identified as microscopic eggs.

Researchers have concluded that they are eggs or embryo of a yet unidentified crustacean. The orange color from the organism is merely a lipid oil droplet in the middle of the egg.

Jeep Rice, lead scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric lab in Auke Bay says of the orange goo,”So this is natural. It is not chemical pollution; it is not a man-made substance.” He added that scientists were able to identify the cell structure rather quickly once the substance was under a microscope.

Scientists there are not able to rule out toxicity of the substance, or from what organism it came from. But, samples have been sent to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric lab on the east coast for further study.

The report from NOAA can be read here.