Media Tip Sheet – June 2026

JUNE 2026 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.

Basking sharks aren’t fasting their way through winter, according to a new study

Unlike many migratory animals that survive on stored energy, basking sharks appear to feed during their long winter migrations from the northeastern United States to the Caribbean. Using more than 8,000 days of tracking data from 37 sharks tagged near Cape Cod, a new WHOI-led study shows the animals consistently occupied deep “ocean twilight zone” waters between 400 and 1,000 meters, where they likely targeted dense layers of small fishes and zooplankton. The findings suggest these filter feeders rely not only on productive coastal waters, but also on deep-ocean food webs that are increasingly threatened by fishing and warming ocean conditions. Researchers are available for interviews.

Take a bite of the study in the WHOI Press Room.

Images and video available for use with credit can be found here. 

New tool predicts coral bleaching months in advance, offering critical lead time for protection

WHOI researchers created an early-warning system, called BEEP, that can predict coral bleaching events up to six months in advance, potentially giving reef managers critical time to protect vulnerable ecosystems. To build the forecasting model, researchers analyzed 72 years of coral bleaching history using CT scans of coral skeleton cores, which preserve stress signatures left behind during past bleaching events. Scientists say the tool could help reef managers move vulnerable corals or prepare other interventions before extreme marine heat stress arrives, improving the odds of protecting reefs in a warming ocean.

Get a look at the tech in the WHOI Press Room.

Images available for use with credit can be found here. 

A below-average Atlantic hurricane season could be on the way

June marks the official start of hurricane season. These storms are powered by the ocean, drawing heat and moisture from warm surface waters that directly influence how strong a storm can become. This year, NOAA is forecasting a below-average Atlantic hurricane season due to potentially record-breaking El Niño conditions, which weaken trade winds and shift warm water eastward, reducing Atlantic storm-fueling conditions. A single system moving over unusually warm water can still rapidly intensify, underscoring the importance of continuous ocean observation to understand and anticipate storm behavior.

Learn more about hurricanes from WHOI’s Ocean Learning Hub. 

Other stories:

• Researchers help solve mystery of clockwork-like earthquake system deep beneath the Pacific
• Industrial fishing has been depleting midwater fish for decades, new WHOI study finds
• Autonomous underwater robot discovers hidden coral reef “hotspots”
• Small seabirds rely on crosswinds to navigate the open ocean

On the June calendar:

• June 8: World Ocean Day
• June 9: Coral Triangle Day: Research mission tests viral role in reef resilience
• June 16: World Sea Turtle Day
• June 20: World Horseshoe Crab Day

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