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
WHOI senior scientist named 2024 MacArthur Fellow
Benjamin Van Mooy receives “genius grant” for his research on biogeochemical networks and the impacts of climate change on ocean health
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🛰️High above the earth, @iss astronauts have a unique perspective of the eye and explosive wall of clouds as #HurricaneMilton tracks toward the west coast of Florida.
Record sea surface temperatures in the #GulfofMexico have supercharged #Milton, causing the storm to rapidly intensify over the past several days.
📲See more from @nasa -and if you’re in Florida, please follow evacuation orders and stay safe!
Oct 8
Looking for something awesome to do over the #longweekend? Why not take a trip to the #OceanTwilightZone?!
Your ticket to this mysterious mid-ocean realm awaits at @artechouse - an #immersive #audiovisual experience in our nation’s capital! Prepare yourself for a world of wonder, complete with interactive exhibits, incredible sound design, and delicious ocean-inspired drinks!
📲Find out what #WHOI biologist Lyndsey Lefebvre thought about the show, then plan your trip!
Oct 8
🌟🥒🌟This glowing pink #seacucumber may seem like an alien life form, but it’s actually related to sea stars and sea urchins.
While most sea cucumbers attach themselves to the seafloor, Enypniastes eximia is part of an elite club of swimmers. It visits the seafloor to feed on the organic material attached to sand and mud, stuffing the sediment into its mouth with tube feet. It uses the wing-like collar around the front of its body to swim several hundred feet up from the bottom.
This guy’s intestines and other internal organs are visible through its clear body wall, which is covered with light-producing organs. Scientists think #bioluminescence may help this sea cucumber–and many other #OceanTwilightZone species–deter predators.
This picture was taken with a remotely operated vehicle 8,200 feet (2,500 meters) below the surface. It comes to you courtesy of the 2007 Inner Space Speciation Project, a WHOI-led, international effort to discover new species that developed in isolation between the warm shallow waters of the #CoralTriangle and the deep ocean basins of the #CelebesSea.
📸 by Larry Madin © #WHOI
Oct 8
Did you catch the #northernlights this weekend? Kent Sheasley, captain of the #WHOI-operated @rvneilarmstrong, did! He snapped this photo from the port in #Nuuk, #Greenland, where the ship is preparing for a research cruise spanning the Davis Straits, the North Labrador Sea, and Baffin Bay.
Oct 7
🌪️As Florida braces for #HurricaneMilton, #WHOI’s fleet of #Argo floats are helping forecasters predict the storm’s path and intensity.
Seen in this map from the morning of October 7, several of our profiling floats are in the hurricane’s track through the Gulf of Mexico. One float (4903544) recently recorded sea surface temperatures of 86°F (30°C). Hurricanes are fueled by surface temperatures over 79⁰ F (26⁰ C), so there is plenty of heat in the region to power the storm before its predicted landfall on Wednesday.
📲 Learn more about how hurricanes are formed– and how research helps us stay one step ahead of them– at the link in our profile!
Image courtesy of Pelle Robbins © WHOI
Oct 7
🎓️ Last week, students from @us_navalwarcollege spent a day at #WHOI, learning about our robust oceanographic research programs, policy work, and #innovationlabs at #WHOI_AVAST. Representing 46 countries, including the United States, these naval officers are taking part in a nearly year-long program designed to build cooperation between American and international navies.
📸 by Elise Hugus © Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Oct 7
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