People’s reactions to Daisuke Shibamoto’s share of an unusual photo on the internet were a mix of fascination and fear. A photo meant to show a peaceful farm suddenly set off an Internet storm when it revealed dozens of unusual, natural-looking objects spread all around the land.
They were rounded, a little lumpy, and covered in icy material that made them appear much like Alien and Prometheus Xenomorph eggs. So many viewers expected the creature to appear since it felt so real in the visuals.
While debate about aliens and government secrets rose online, the farmer took everything calmly and did not react. When queried, he answered in a dry way: “Ah, nonsense.” It made it sound as if the grotesque figures were nothing more puzzling than a rake placed in the wrong place. While sipping his tea and messing with the tractor, he acted as calm as someone who had seen even stranger happenings from the ground.
Many sci-fi fans noticed how close the story seemed to stories from the genre. Online forums were buzzing with thoughts and jokes, some hinting that this might be the beginning of an alien invasion, since, as previous movies and history say, every apocalypse starts out with a simple sighting in a secluded spot.
The pictures also played a role in getting me nervous: bulky, grotesque forms were coated with shiny, partially transparent materials and looked like monsters from a horror movie. The effect was even stronger when the sun created weird reflections that made the mounds look like they were alive.
Very soon, conspiracy theorists and alien hunters found that reality was not what they’d hoped. What actually happened was agricultural: the foul smell came from rotting cabbages. It was discovered that last year’s crop was left unharvested by the farmer, a standard farming practice that’s sometimes considered a bit lazy.
What stood out the most about the scene was the way the weather was portrayed. Because it hadn’t been very cold, the cabbages had lasted and became distorted rather than being frozen. When a sudden cold period arrived in early spring, the outer part of the cabbage got too wet and turned to ice, making the vegetables look glossy like aliens.
The interiors are full of liquid sludge, fish skulls, and blooming algae that come naturally during decomposition. In the end, nature creates things that are distinctively strange and grotesque. Yet, with the frost in place, these stunned sculptures keep attracting people who come to see them.
Both residents and visitors are bringing their cameras to check out the famous “xenomorph eggs” before they’re gone. To sum up, an accident during farming turned into a famous moment, capturing the minds of many and standing as a modern myth connecting farming, the climate, and the internet.
