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Research Highlights

Oceanus Magazine

Lily Sanborn

How historic hurricanes can help predict storm intensity

June 24, 2021

Research into past hurricanes could help predict the strength of future storms, and inform infrastructure planning and emergency management decisions in southern New England

From Mars to the deep

April 28, 2021

Navigation technology that helped NASA’s Perseverance rover land safely on Mars could guide robots in another unexplored terrain that’s much closer to home: the deepest trenches of the ocean.

iceberg

Can icebergs be towed to water-starved cities?

January 6, 2021

The big tow Researchers have floated the idea of long-distance iceberg towing for decades.

hydrothermal vent

Finding answers in the ocean

November 10, 2020

The test being used to diagnose the novel coronavirus—and other pandemics like AIDS and SARS—was developed with the help of an enzyme isolated from a microbe found in marine hydrothermal vents as well as freshwater hot springs.

Peter de Menocal

Who is Peter de Menocal? A Conversation with WHOI’s new President & Director

October 29, 2020

On October 1st, Dr. Peter de Menocal assumed the role of President & Director of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the 11th person to hold that title since the Institution was founded in 1930. In a wide-ranging conversation, we meet the man and the scientist—and get a glimpse of what WHOI’s future may hold under his leadership.

News Releases

Urban civilization rose in Southern Mesopotamia on the back of tides

August 20, 2025

A newly published study challenges long-held assumptions about the origins of urban civilization in ancient Mesopotamia

Tica hydrothermal vent

Scientists in Alvin witness seafloor eruption on the East Pacific Rise

May 2, 2025

Long-awaited event sets the stage for scientists to learn more about physical, chemical and biological processes in the deep ocean East Pacific Rise, Pacific Ocean (May 2, 2025)  – Scientists diving in the human-occupied vehicle Alvin recently witnessed a rare…

New study provides insight into how some species thrive in dark, oxygen-free environments

January 16, 2025

New research on single-celled organisms sheds light on deep-sea energy sources

NUI Robot Arm

Newly published study reveals diversity of novel hydrothermal vent styles on the Arctic Ocean floor

December 19, 2024

Research offers potential understanding of habitability on ocean worlds in the outer solar system

Drilling vessel JOIDES Resolution

Mantle rock recovery may reveal secrets of Earth’s history

August 8, 2024

Scientists unravel the role of our planet’s mantle in volcanism and global cycles

News & Insights

The Search for Life

February 17, 2021

This week, NASA’s Perseverance Rover lands on Mars to continue the search for life on the Red Planet. At the same time, WHOI scientists and engineers are applying their experience exploring the deepest parts of planet Earth to the quest…

greenland ice

Will melting glaciers cool the climate?

July 29, 2020

As glaciers melt at unprecedented rates, WHOI’s Simon Pendleton is looking back to historical records to predict whether this new cool runoff will slow ocean circulation and cool the northern hemisphere––findings which could mean adjustments to some climate predictions.

Art Maxwell

Celebrating an oceanographic life

July 1, 2020

WHOI looks back at the legacy of co-founder of MIT-WHOI Joint Program, former Director of Research and Provost at WHOI, Art Maxwell

Working from home: Chris German

April 30, 2020

As I reached the end of April, I realized that too much of my time was getting consumed by zoom calls and email in a bid to over-compensate for not being able to interact with people on-site at WHOI. So…

per

Finding medical answers in the ocean

March 19, 2020

The test being used to diagnose the novel coronavirus—and other pandemics like AIDS and SARS—was developed with the help of an enzyme isolated from a microbe found in marine hydrothermal vents as well as freshwater hot springs.

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