Ocean Life
First-ever footage captured of baby ‘dumbo’ octopus
quotes Tim Shank
Watch the adorable, first-ever video of a newborn dumbo octopus
features video taken by Tim Shank
To protect right whales, scientists propose major changes for lobstermen
quotes Mark Baumgartner and Michael Moore
Rare Find from the Deep Sea
For the first time ever, a team of international researchers were given the rare opportunity to observe and film a dumbo octopus – measuring just a few centimeters – hatching from its egg during an expedition to explore a chain of underwater mountains off the U.S. East Coast in 2005. Their findings were published Feb. 19, 2018, in the journal Current Biology.
Read MoreUnderwater Soundscapes
WHOI postdoctoral scholar Ashlee Lillis checks on snapping shrimp in a tank at the Institution’s Environmental Systems Laboratory. The shrimp…
Read MoreMonitoring Bacteria on Whale Skin
Just like with humans, the skin on marine mammals serves as an important line of defense against pathogens in their environment. A new study sheds light on the skin microbiome – a group of microorganisms that live on skin – in healthy humpback whales, which could aid in future efforts to monitor their health.
Read MoreFrom Whales to Microbes
WHOI scientist Amy Apprill studies a wide range of marine life—from microorganisms to whales. In recent years, she has studied…
Read MoreAn Ear in the Ocean
WHOI research engineer Rod Catanach wires a sound recorder on a coral reef off St. John in the U.S. Virgin…
Read MoreReef Research
Kan-Min of the Dongsha Atoll Research Station steers a research vessel over Dongsha’s coral reef in the South China Sea,…
Read MoreCorals Under Threat
A large school of bigeye trevally swim past a submarine carrying WHOI scientists descending in Cabu Pulmo National Park, home…
Read MoreYear’s first dead right whale a young female well-known in Cape waters
mentions WHOI
Right whale death off Virginia coast adds to concern about species’ demise
mentions WHOI
Scientists pinpoint how ocean acidification weakens coral skeletons
quotes Nathaniel Mollica, Anne Cohen
Scientists Pinpoint How Ocean Acidification Weakens Coral Skeletons
The rising acidity of the oceans threatens coral reefs by making it harder for corals to build their skeletons. A new study identifies the details of how ocean acidification affects coral skeletons, allowing scientists to predict more precisely where corals will be more vulnerable.
Read MoreCoral Skeleton Crystals
Former MIT-WHOI Joint Program student Tom DeCarlo holds a vial containing aragonite, a crystal form of calcium carbonate, the mineral…
Read MoreFishing Gear Deaths, Low Birth Rate Tell Grave Tale for Right Whales Sara Brown
quotes Mark Baumgartner
On the Trail of Sea Life with an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle
quotes Amy Kukulya, Kara Dodge
A Double Whammy for Corals
Scientists know that gradually rising ocean temperatures can push corals past a threshold and cause them to bleach. But combine…
Read MoreScientists Reveal Secrets of Whales
Researchers have known for decades that whales create elaborate songs. But a new study has revealed a component of whale…
Read MoreCan Clams and Oysters Help Clean Up Waterways?
Towns in Cape Cod are looking to shellfish not only as culinary treats, but as a way to help clean…
Read MoreFeeling the Heat in the NW Atlantic
Rising temperatures along the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean will force American lobsters (H. americanus) farther offshore and into more northern waters, according to a new study led by researchers at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI).
Read MoreMicrobial communities demonstrate high turnover
mentions Dennis McGillicuddy
Dolphin diet study gives conservation clues
quotes Andreas Fahlman
The whales that have returned to South Georgia’s killing waters
quotes Michael Moore (written by a past WHOI Ocean Science Journalism Fellow)