Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

What are barnacles? Barnacles are tiny, upside-down-living crustaceans that are relatives of crabs, lobsters, and shrimp. They spend most of their adult lives glued head-first to a surface. As larvae, they drift through the ocean as part of zooplankton, looking for the perfect place to settle. Once they commit, they cement themselves in place with a strong natural adhesive and build a cone-shaped shell of calcium plates around their bodies.

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is a 501 (c)(3) organization. We are proud to be recognized as a financially accountable and transparent, 4-star charity organization by Charity Navigator.

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution announces with great sorrow the death of employee Ross Cunnick on July 7, 2026. Ross has been employed as a driver since 2018. Further information will be posted when available.

The Heroic Age Expedition, led by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society in partnership with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, reveals the famed Antarctic explorer’s last ship, Quest in stunning detail Footage and photography available for use can be found here.

WHOI and the Yawkey Foundation bring together scientists and community to look at the impacts of our changing ocean Woods Hole, Mass. (July 8, 2026) – Looking for a fun, free way to connect with ocean science this summer? Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) proudly presents the 2026 Ocean and Climate Outreach Series in partnership with the Yawkey Foundation.

Foukal, N.,Le Bras, I., Fu, Y., Petit, T., Bilo, T. C., Elipot, S., & Moat, B. (2026). Strengthening Connections in Observing the North Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation: Outcomes from a Joint RAPID-OSNAP Workshop.Oceanography, 39(1), 44-49. https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2026.e110 In July 2025, we organized a hybrid workshop based in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, that brought together 45 oceanographers and marine technicians involved in the RAPID and OSNAP arrays.

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is a 501 (c)(3) organization. We are proud to be recognized as a financially accountable and transparent, 4-star charity organization by Charity Navigator.

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U.S. Navy certification permits the sub to resume operations to 6,500 meters after a routine overhaul Photos, captions, and credits are available here Woods Hole, Mass. (July 1, 2026) — The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) today announced that the human-occupied submersible Alvin has been officially certified to return to service following the successful completion of its recent, routine overhaul and testing program.

The Royal Canadian Geographical Society, in partnership with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, will undertake a “once-in-a-generation” expedition to survey Sir Ernest Shackleton’s QUEST and Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s TERRA NOVA Photos available for use with credit can be found here.