Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

2 weeks ago | whoi.edu | Alison Pearce Stevens

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) can pose a threat to people, pets, and livestock, as well as aquatic and marine life. WHOI researchers in the Anderson and Brosnahan Labs are investigating what drives HABs; their efforts to track blooms are leading to innovative new ways to relay real-time warnings to communities to prevent illness and death from HAB toxins. Researchers Don Anderson, Mindy Richlen, and Evie Fachon weigh in on some common misconceptions about HABs and human health.

2 months ago | whoi.edu | Laura Castañón

Remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) allow researchers to explore areas of the ocean that human divers can’t reach. But if the water is turbid—clouded with suspended particles or stirred-up sediment—ROVs are limited in what they can do. Human pilots need to be able to see clearly to carry out delicate tasks like manipulating dangerous objects or interacting with a fragile environment.

Mar 13, 2025 | whoi.edu | Alison Pearce Stevens

Plastic pollution is a serious—and growing—environmental problem, with millions of tons of bags, bottles, fishing gear and more piling up on land and floating out to sea. But just how long does it last—and how can we innovate new materials to address the problem moving forward? WHOI scientists are investigating both issues. It’s easy to think the sole problem with plastic lies in its long life. Some estimates put the lifespan of some kinds of plastic as high as 1,000 years.

Jan 3, 2025 | whoi.edu | Dina Pandya

JANUARY 2025 MEDIA TIP SHEETWelcome 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. A new predator found 7,902 meters below the surfaceThe ocean's hadal zone, characterized by darkness and intense pressure, seems uninhabitable, yet dozens of unique organisms call it home.

Dec 19, 2024 | whoi.edu | Dina Pandya

When it comes to naming newly discovered species, it’s not unheard of for scientists to draw from the world of fiction in their taxonomic descriptions. There are plenty of examples out there. Like the never-before-seen genus of shrimp found in Southeast Asia in 1997, whose bold-striped patterns earned it the name Potamalpheops tigger after the Whinnie-the-Pooh character Tigger.