Media Tip Sheet – November 2025

NOVEMBER 2025 MEDIA TIP SHEET

Welcome to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s 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.

Six-million-year-old ice provides a chilling clue to Earth’s warmer past

A team of researchers, including those from WHOI, has discovered six-million-year-old ice in the Allan Hills region of East Antarctica — the oldest directly dated ice and air on Earth. The ancient ice provides an unprecedented “time machine” into a warmer Earth, where geological indicators suggest higher temperatures and raised sea levels compared to today. Using isotope measurements, the researchers found that the region cooled by roughly 12 °C (22 °F) over the last six million years, marking the first direct estimate of such long-term Antarctic cooling. The ice cores, though not continuous, create a “library of climate snapshots” significantly older than previous ice records, expanding our view of Earth’s past climate states. Interviews are available.

Chill out with the story in the WHOI Press Room. 

Heat signals from the deep hint at upcoming volcanic eruptions

WHOI scientists have discovered that subtle temperature changes in hydrothermal vent fluids can serve as a predictive indicator of undersea eruptions along mid-ocean ridges. Using a 35-year time series from several vents on the East Pacific Rise, the team found that vent temperatures rose from about 350 °C to nearly 390 °C in the years before two known eruptions. That warming is interpreted as a sign of increasing pressure from magma accumulating beneath the seafloor, which in turn heats the fluid pathways leading to the vents.  By correlating those temperature readings with models and seafloor observations, researchers argue that the signals can help forecast a deep-sea volcanic event, which they successfully did for an eruption confirmed in April 2025. Experts are available for interviews on this explosive find.

Photos available for use with credit can be found here.

Get educated on the eruption in the WHOI Press Room.

The Ocean Pavilion returns to the International Climate Conference for a fourth year

WHOI and Scripps Institution of Oceanography will lead the Ocean Pavilion at the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, from November 10 to 21, 2025. More than a dozen of the world’s leading ocean science, philanthropic, and other stakeholder organizations will represent ocean issues at the world’s largest climate negotiation.

Toward the end of a year marked by catastrophic flooding, hurricanes, and alarming news about the extent of ocean warming, pavilion partners seek to bring the importance of robust observations of ocean conditions and the potential for technological remedies to the attention of policymakers. The Ocean Pavilion will continue to highlight the fundamental role of our ocean in climate and serve as the central hub for conference delegates to exchange ideas on addressing the climate crisis by leveraging ocean science and solutions. Interviews are available with delegates attending COP30.

Stay up-to-date with WHOI at COP30 in the Press Room.

Other Stories:

• For Our Ocean Planet: WHOI launches historic $500 million campaign to ignite ocean discovery and solutions
• WHOI’s Michael Spall awarded AGU Harald Sverdrup Lecture, recognizing outstanding contributions to ocean science

On the October Calendar:

November 3: World Basking Shark Day

November 10-21: COP 30 in Belém, Brazil

November 21: World Fisheries Day

Follow @WHOIMedia on X!

Get WHOI-related science news updates and story ideas in 280 characters or less with links to press releases, news highlights, events, and research information.

This account’s DMs are always open. We are excited to work with you!