Multimedia
Life cycle of a scallop
What happens to the larvae of shellfish between birth and settling down largely remains a mystery. Finding out is essential to managing and restoring shellfish beds.
Read MoreLife cycle of dinoflagellate Alexandrium
The dinoflagellate Alexandrium grows, divides, and blooms in surface waters, then forms dormant cysts that settle on the seafloor to survive tough conditions.
Read MoreThe "on-call" buoy
Whales risk fatal entanglement in vertical ropes from lobster traps. The “on-call” buoy coils lines on a buoyant spool, eliminating dangerous vertical lines.
Read MoreMaldive medusae illustration
Marine biologist Henry Bigelow, WHOI’s first director, illustrated the Maldive medusae. His detailed, beautiful artwork of gelatinous marine life remains valued today.
Read MoreGlobal Map of Cesium-137 Levels in the Ocean
Map shows global ocean levels of Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope released from nuclear fission and major nuclear events like weapons tests and reactor accidents.
Read MorePlastic debris in the North Atlantic
Map of floating plastic debris collected over 22 years by students at sea shows high concentrations trapped in the slow-moving North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre.
Read MoreMarine Life Size vs Abundance
Ocean life spans from tiny bacteria and viruses to massive whales, with fewer larger animals. Most creatures prey on organisms just smaller than themselves in the food chain.
Read MoreMercury cycle illustration
Mercury cycles between Earth, air, and ocean, where it becomes toxic monomethylmercury that builds up in tuna, swordfish, and other fish we consume.
Read MoreMesodinium rubrum Animal/Plant-Bending Transitions
Mesodinium rubrum usually grow by eating algae, but it can also steal cellular machinery from algae and use it to make its own food via photosynthesis.
Read MoreMesodinium rubrum Boom-and-bust Cycles
Mesodinium rubrum usually grow by eating algae, but it can also steal cellular machinery from algae and use it to make its own food via photosynthesis.
Read MoreSubsea oil seep
About half of ocean oil comes from natural seeps. Studying their path helps scientists better understand how oil moves and settles after spills.
Read MoreIllustration of Alexandrium life cycle Red tide research
Dinoflagellates such as Alexandrium, which can cause harmful algal blooms, have effective strategies for survival and dispersal.
Read MoreIllustration of a whale-detection DMON buoy system
This whale detection system transmits information about whale sounds to shore in near real time.
Read MoreMass spectrometry process
Proteomics helps scientists see how ocean organisms respond to change by analyzing the proteins they produce—not just what they can do, but what they are doing.
Read MoreSperm whale path
D-tag data show sperm whales use rhythmic “codas” to communicate and rapid “buzzes” to pinpoint prey, revealing how they navigate and hunt in the deep.
Read MoreSubsea asphalt volcano
Faulting or rupturing in the Earth around allows oil and gas from subterranean reservoirs to seep up to the seafloor, while some oil solidifies to create asphalt volcanoes.
Read MoreHow a hurricane forms
At the equator, trade winds create a surface current east to west, while the Equatorial Undercurrent brings cooler, nutrient-rich water, promoting marine life.
Read MoreHow dispersants were used during the Gulf oil spill
A study modeled the impact of dispersants during Deepwater Horizon, showing they reduced oil droplets, limiting toxic gas levels and health risks.
Read MoreHow fast deoxygenation can happen
Phytoplankton use nutrients and sunlight to produce oxygen. Past nutrient spikes caused oxygen-depleted zones, echoing today’s ocean symptoms.
Read MoreHow multibeam sonar works
Multibeam sonar maps the seafloor by sending sound waves from ships or vehicles and measuring echoes to reveal depth, shape, and surface features.
Read MoreHow Right whale buoy detection system works
The DMON buoy detects whale calls, sends data via satellite to scientists in near-real time, helping identify species and reduce ship-whale collisions.
Read MoreHow sidescan sonar works
Sidescan sonar towed 500m above the seafloor maps surface textures. Soft mud appears dark; hard features like crusts or shells show up as bright images.
Read MoreAir France Flight 447 travel path
Map showing the approximate travel path of the ill-fated Air France Flight 447
Read MoreThe carbon exchange cycle
Carbon moves between air, land, and sea. In the ocean, CO? dissolves, is used by life, or stored in deep rocks—key to climate and life on Earth.
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