Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) is the world's premier independent organization dedicated exclusively to ocean research, technology, and education. We combine state-of-the-art science, engineering, and ship operations to unravel the mysteries of the deep and devise science-based solutions to planet-wide problems.
RECENT NEWS
Counting on Corals
As struggling reefs put a squeeze on Belize’s Blue Economy, could heat-tolerant corals be the answer?
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🌊When we protect the ocean, we’re protecting its inhabitants.
That’s what happened when the Mexican government created a 180 sq. mile (~500 sq. km) no-take zone in the Gulf of California’s Espiritu Santo National Park– and even closed it to visitors during sea lion mating season. Protected since 2007, the Los Islotes colony of California sea lions is steadily growing, while neighboring colonies have decreased by 65%.
📲 See more reasons to protect our shared ocean home, through the lens of award-winning photographer @henleyspiers at the link in the comments!
#OurLivingOcean #LifeBeyond #30x30
Jun 26
🏖️ Headed to the beach? Be on the lookout for these small #gelatinous creatures along the shoreline. They may look like #jellyfish, but they’re actually not even related. The clear blobs have been causing a bit of a stir on beaches across the southeastern US... but what are they?!
#WHOI deputy director emeritus Larry Madin explains in @southernlivingmag! Find out at the 🔗 in bio... or hazard a guess in the comments!
#WeirdOcean #KeepItWeird
Jun 26
You may have heard that our beloved submersible, #Alvin, is celebrating six decades of deep sea research this summer. And like many of us "of a certain age," there are rumors about whether or not ALVIN has had any work done... after all, the sub doesn`t exactly look 60!
📣With this milestone, we`re revealing all! Find out all you ever wanted to know (and more) about ALVIN at the 🔗 in our profile!
Jun 25
#Mesobot is specifically designed to study life in the #oceantwilightzone. It can maneuver under its own power for more than 24 hours, slowly following and filming animals as they swim through the water column. This hybrid underwater #robot is also outfitted with a variety of sensors to collect oceanographic data– and even sample the water for traces of animal DNA.
📲 Get to know Mesobot at the 🔗at our profile!
Mesobot is a collaborative effort by #WHOI, @mbari_news, @stanford, and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Development and at-sea operations have been funded by the @nsf_gov, @noaa and @theaudaciousproject
📹 produced by Craig LaPlante © WHOI
Jun 25
🦀The saltwater pom-pom may look like easy prey, but this cunning little #boxercrab carries a powerful weapon: venomous #anemones armed with stinging cells. By waving the anemones in their claws like boxing gloves—or scary pom-poms—the crabs can frighten or sting predators. They also use the anemones’ tentacles to collect food particles off the seafloor!
But this #symbiotic relationship may only go one way. Scientists have not yet discovered what, if anything, the anemones get out of it.
📲Check out more ocean "friends with benefits" at the link in bio!
📸: Boxer Crab carrying eggs - Lybia tessellata by prilfish, Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License
Jun 25
🦠Summertime... and the coastal ponds are covered in algae!
Saving Our Ponds, a six-part video series produced by the Woods Hole Center for Oceans and Human Health, explores the impacts of harmful algae blooms on freshwater and brackish bodies around #CapeCod and the Islands, including their dangers to human health, animals, and ecosystems.
📽️ Learn more about these algae blooms and some inspiring community-driven initiatives to restore water quality! Join us tomorrow at WHOI`s Redfield Auditorium for a free screening and reception. (On-site parking will be available.)
Can`t make it in person? 📲Watch the Saving Our Ponds series at our YouTube channel (link in bio).
Funding for the video series was provided by a Woods Hole Foundation grant to the Falmouth Water Stewards
Jun 24
OUR WORK
WHOI is at the forefront of groundbreaking science and technology development, unlocking the mysteries of our ocean, its connections to life on Earth, and solutions it may hold to some of our most pressing environmental challenges.
Our scientists and engineers lead more than 800 concurrent projects, tackling some of the most challenging and important problems of our time, from climate change and ocean pollution to sustainable food and energy production.
We operate a fleet of research vessels and vehicles, including two large ships (R/V Neil Armstrong and R/V Atlantis), a smaller coastal research vessel, the iconic human-occupied submersible Alvin, and dozens of other underwater robots.
Through our higher education programs, including the prestigious MIT-WHOI Joint Program, we train new generations of ocean scientists, engineers, and leaders-providing access to cutting edge facilities and unparalleled access to the sea.
WHOI plays a leading role in ocean communications, sharing our insights and knowledge about the ocean to the general public, policymakers, educators, and more, so we can make wise decisions about our ocean, our planet, and our future.
FEATURED PROJECTS
We have over 1,000 scientists, engineers, technicians, and support staff working around the globe and cutting edge laboratories to push the boundaries of knowledge about the ocean.
Ocean and Climate Innovation Accelerator
Bringing together industry, academia, and philanthropy to develop and accelerate new climate change solutions.
Ocean Twilight Zone
Exploring the globe-spanning region beneath the sunlit upper ocean where life thrives
Ocean Worlds
Discovering the links between life in our ocean and the search for life beyond Earth
Marine Microplastics Initiative
Investigating the fate of microplastics and their impacts on marine life and human health
Super Reefs
Searching for corals around the world to help ensure a future for reefs in a warming ocean
Ocean Observatories Initiative
The NSF-funded program measures physical, chemical, geological and biological properties from the seafloor to the air-sea interface.
HADEX
Research and exploration of the deepest parts of the ocean, Earth’s final frontier
Reef Solutions
Working to protect corals and reverse the global decline of reef ecosystems