Media Tip Sheet – October 2026

OCTOBER 2026 MEDIA TIP SHEET

Welcome to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s (WHOI) media tip sheet. Our goal is to provide an advanced or detailed look at stories we believe are impactful or trending, and offer WHOI experts if you’re interested in a deeper dive.

Can evolution save a species from climate change?

A new study finds that evolution alone may not be enough to save black-browed albatrosses from climate change. Researchers combined more than 30 years of observations with climate and population models to examine whether the long-lived seabirds can adapt quickly enough to keep pace with changing conditions. They found that while evolution may help albatrosses cope with some changes, reducing greenhouse gas emissions has a much larger effect on their future. Under lower-emissions scenarios, the birds’ projected risk of extinction was cut roughly in half, showing that the pace of climate change can matter as much as a species’ ability to adapt.

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Images available for use with credit can be found here. 

Scientists are tracking a massive algae bloom in the Gulf of Maine

There’s a massive bloom of dinoflagellates in the Gulf of Maine, but what are they? These microscopic organisms are mostly benign, but some species can produce toxins and create "red tide" when they occur in large numbers. Through WHOI's Harmful Algal Bloom Observing Network-New England (HABON-NE), a network of sensors provides direct, in-water observations of phytoplankton from Maine to Rhode Island, which complement satellite monitoring by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

WHOI’s Brosnahan Lab has also found that blooms of Karenia, a genus of dinoflagellates, have increased across the Gulf of Maine over the past decade, but what’s driving these changes is a mystery. Interviews about WHOI’s role in monitoring harmful algal blooms and how they’re changing are available.

Tiny oyster larvae rely on gravity to survive

A new WHOI study shows that tiny eastern oyster larvae use gravity, not just swimming, to create the currents that bring food to their mouths. Oysters are particularly vulnerable to ocean acidification, which changes seawater chemistry and makes it harder for them to build calcium carbonate shells. This study’s findings suggest that if acidification alters shell formation enough to reduce a larva’s density relative to seawater, it could also weaken the gravity-driven feeding current it relies on to bring food to its mouth, potentially affecting young oysters. Interviews with researchers are available.

Sink into the story in the WHOI Press Room.

Images available for use with credit can be found here.

Other stories:

• Marine carbon dioxide removal is advancing, but questions remain about viability, says new digital report
• New international coalition establishes shared principles for responsible research into ocean iron-based carbon removal

On the October calendar:

October 7: WHOI’s Ocean Encounters Series: El Niño 

October 8: World Octopus Day

October 31: WHOI’s Science Discovery Center closes for the off-season

October 31: Celebrate Halloween with WHOI's creature features

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