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.
📹️ What does it take to make a documentary at sea? Go #behindthescenes of "Our Alien Earth" with @nasa filmmaker Mike Toillion on a #WHOI-led mission to explore underwater volcanoes with #smartrobots – or as he puts it, "watch a team of windburnt scientists, engineers, and sailors through my lens, wrestling with a 5,000lb submersible hanging in the air."
📲Read all about it at the 🔗 in our profile!
Sep 1
🧦 Cold feet? Not on our watch! With cooler weather on the horizon, it’s time to give your sock drawer an upgrade with our ocean-themed collection. 🐋 From orcas to 🪸 coral to ocean zones, your feet will stay cozy while looking cool!
📲Take your collection to the next level while supporting our marine research!
Aug 31
📚 Looking for a stimulating long-weekend read? Whether you`re on the water or chillin` in the backyard, immerse yourself in #OurLivingOcean with the digital version of #WHOI`s flagship magazine, #Oceanus.
📲 Dive in at the link in bio! (It`s free!)
Aug 31
🕵️ How can we build the tech to look for life on other #oceanworlds? Extreme environments on Earth are a great place to start!
Learn more in "Our Alien Earth," a 3-part documentary from NASA+ that follows scientists from the lava fields of Iceland to underwater volcanoes off the coast of Greece, testing technologies that directly inform @nasa missions to detect and discover extraterrestrial life in the Universe.
Episode 3 features a WHOI-led expedition with autonomous underwater vehicles that can make their own decisions! 🤩
📲 Treat yourself to this NASA+ series (link in bio)!
Aug 30
🤖🎣 Could a robot help clean up “ghost” fishing gear? In partnership with @whoiseagrant, #WHOI engineers are working on an underwater vehicle capable of removing entangled nets from #shipwrecks. It’s part of a nationwide @commercegov and @noaa effort to prevent + remove #marinedebris from underwater #culturalheritage sites.
📲 Get "caught up"! Read the @wcai_npr story at the link in our profile!
📸: Screenshots from a 3D model showing a large fishing net draped over the shipwreck Portland, located off the coast of Massachusetts in @stellwagenbanknms + images of the animal life hosted by the wreck. Credit @marine_imaging
Aug 30
It`s International #WhaleShark Day! 🥳
Can you believe that an animal as big as a school bus depends on some of the smallest creatures in the ocean to survive?! But being the #biggestfish in the ocean–and the largest non-mammal vertebrate in the world– is just one of the surprising things about the whale shark!
Gliding peacefully through tropical surface waters, whale sharks open their large, flat mouths to filter huge quantities of zooplankton, fish larvae, and even small fish through sieve-like pads inside their gills. Unlike other large filter-feeders (like the basking shark), whale sharks actively vacuum up water by rapidly opening and closing their mouths and expelling water through their gills.
While much of their food is found in the upper ocean, whale sharks are known to dive as deep as 1,800 meters (6,000 feet). Scientists think these forays into the ocean twilight zone are likely for reasons other than food—perhaps to cool down, remove parasites, save energy, or even to calibrate their internal navigation.
📲 Get to know these gentle giants of the deep at the link in our profile!
Aug 30
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.