Biology
Detail of lipids in cell membranes
The cell membranes of single-celled marine life are mostly made of fatty compounds called lipids.
Read MoreDiatoms and Coccoliths carbon-dioxide carbon removal from atmosphere
Conditions that influence how diatoms and coccoliths removal of carbon-dioxide — from the atmosphere to the deep ocean.
Read MoreDrawing of Timoides agassizii by Henry Bigelow
Henry Bigelow, WHOI’s founding director, began his oceanography career on a 1901 Maldives expedition, where he studied and sketched gelatinous sea life.
Read MoreDTAG data plot showing whale could dive deeper after disentanglement
Tracking showed an entangled right whale dove shallowly, but after rescue, dove much deeper—revealing how gear hinders whale movement and effort.
Read MoreSharks ride eddies to the depths
White sharks in the open ocean seem to seek out eddies for a surprising reason: The eddies offer a beeline to a banquet of food.
Read MoreEffects of light penetrating the ocean
Phytoplankton absorb red and blue light but reflect green, which satellites can detect—revealing life and particles in sunlit ocean surface waters.
Read MoreBiomass of mesopelagic organisms in Ocean Twilight Zone (OTZ)
The ocean twilight zone hosts Earth’s largest animal migration and plays a key role in the climate by helping move carbon from the surface to the deep sea.
Read MoreCarbon drawn into the ocean by plankton sinks and dissipates with depth
Only a small fraction of the carbon drawn into the ocean by plankton blooms makes it into the depths where it no longer can be exchanged with the atmosphere.
Read MoreCarbon-14 natural cycle
An illustration showing the natural carbon-14 cycle through the atmosphere, land and ocean.
Read MoreCiguatera Fish Poisoning cycle
Ciquatera fish poisoning, caused by toxins made by phytoplankton, can cause several gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms in people.
Read MoreCO Solubility Pump
Cold seawater absorbs CO? from the atmosphere, which sinks to the deep ocean via circulation, storing carbon long-term in the solubility pump process.
Read MoreCoral reef deterioration stages
Healthy corals support healthy marine ecosystems, but corals are in crisis on many fronts.
Read MoreCross-section of an anticyclonic eddy, warm core ring used for food sourcing
White sharks use warm, swirling anticyclonic eddies from the Gulf Stream to dive deeper and hunt efficiently in the ocean twilight zone, saving energy.
Read MoreAntarctic ecosystem, summer environment
Antarctic animals all make their living in the ocean, because the land is too cold, dry, and dark for plants and animals.
Read MoreAntarctic ecosystem, winter environment
Antarctica’s coastal seas are especially important because they shelter an abundant ecosystem, supporting large predators such as penguins, seals and whales.
Read MoreArctic ecosystem, including humans
Arctic animals, including humans, survive on the ocean’s plentiful resources.
Read MoreAre offshore wind farms harming whales?
A collection of seemingly grass-roots organizations claim that offshore wind projects are responsible for an uptick in whale deaths. But there’s no evidence to support their claims. Whales have been…
Read MoreWhat is a marine heatwave?
From waning winds to warmer atmospheres, here is the recipe for sudden temperature spikes in our ocean
Read MoreWhy do emperor penguins toboggan?
Learn why Emperor penguins slide around on their bellies or “toboggan” when they’re on the move in Antarctica.
Read MoreHow deep do marine plastics go?
Learn how plastic pollution pervades the ocean, from surface debris to deep-sea trenches. With 390 million tons produced annually, plastic poses a significant threat, impacting marine ecosystems and organisms.
Read MoreHow does ocean warming affect fisheries?
The ocean has absorbed 93% of excess heat from human activities, raising its temperature by 1.5°F since 1901. Warming oceans impact fish migration, leading to conflicts and overfishing.
Read MoreEnvironmental DNA (eDNA)
Environmental DNA (eDNA) is essentially DNA collected from the environment. As animals swim through the ocean, they’re constantly releasing DNA as they shed skin or scales into the water column.
Read MoreWhere does all the carbon go?
Explore the ocean’s critical role in carbon sequestration and how it could be a pathway to mitigate climate change.
Read MoreIs the Great Barrier Reef making a comeback?
The world’s largest reef saw record growth after years of bleaching, but it’s not out of the woods yet
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