How Do Marine Mammals Avoid the Bends?
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Published: 25 April 2018
A WHOI study reveals how marine mammals avoid the bends using specialized lung structures that limit nitrogen absorption. Stress, such as sonar exposure, may disrupt this system and cause decompression sickness, possibly explaining whale strandings.
Keywords: nitrogen, CT scan, cetaceans, diving adaptation, ventilation-perfusion mismatch, whale strandings, Fundacion Oceanografic
Are Emperor Penguins Eating Enough?
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Published: 2 May 2018
WHOI scientists developed a remote video method to monitor Emperor penguins’ foraging success via huddling behavior. As sea ice declines due to climate change, this approach helps assess penguin health and guide conservation efforts.
Keywords: Remote sensing, transition temperature, penguin health, conservation, Antarctic, Zitterbart, wind chill, Journal of Applied Physics
New Details on Discovery of San Jose Shipwreck
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Published: 21 May 2018
WHOI helped discover the legendary San José galleon—sunk in 1708 and loaded with treasure—off Colombia’s coast using the REMUS 6000. The find holds major cultural value and offers clues to 18th-century history.
Keywords: deep-sea exploration, Spanish galleon, Cartagena, cultural heritage, sonar imaging, MAC
