St. Petersburg, Florida (CNN) -- As if the pictures of birds,
fish and animals killed by floating oil in the Gulf of Mexico
are not disturbing enough, scientists now say they have found
evidence of another danger lurking underwater. The University of
South Florida recently discovered a second oil plume in the
northeastern Gulf. The first plume was found by Mississippi
universities in early May. USF has concluded microscopic oil
droplets are forming deep water oil plumes. After a weeklong
analysis of water samples, USF scientists found more oil in
deeper water. "These hydrocarbons are from depth and not
associated with sinking degraded oil but associated with the
source of the Deep Horizon well head," said USF Chemical
Oceanographer David Hollander. Through isotopic or microscopic
fingerprinting, Hollander and his USF crew were able to show the
oil in the plume came from BP's blown-out oil well. The surface
oil's so-called fingerprint matched the tiny underwater
droplet's fingerprint. "We've taken molecular is