Titanic unveiled: Groundbreaking 3D scans reveal new insights
It's been over 100 years since the sinking of the Titanic, yet scientists remain captivated by the tragedy of one of the world's largest ships. According to The Mirror, they have recently succeeded in creating scans with "cinematic sharpness" to aid in understanding the disaster. The article also revisits Captain Smith's last words and final actions, which not everyone knows.
New, detailed 3D scans of the Titanic wreck, created from over 700,000 photos taken by underwater robots, allow for a comprehensive examination of the damage the ship endured after striking the iceberg on 14th April 1912. Experts can better understand how the ship broke into two parts and the subsequent consequences. Britain's The Mirror reports this development.
According to the report, the scans reveal the Titanic wreck in a new light, showing twisted steel and exposed interiors. The images are said to have "cinematic sharpness" and capture the drama experienced by those who lost their lives in the disaster. It's the first time the wreck has been scanned with such precision. Among the victims was Captain Edward John Smith, who commanded the Titanic. This voyage was intended to be his last before retirement.
In the famous film about the disaster, he clings to the helm as water rushes into the bridge. Others claim that his final act was placing a child into a lifeboat.
He did all a man could do. He was brave to the last. He stood on the bridge and waved goodbye, said the survivor Robert Williams Daniel, quoted by The Mirror.
According to survivors, his last words were "Be British," intended as a calming command amidst the chaos. The captain assisted passengers, particularly women and children, to the end and refused to leave his post. One steward reportedly saw Smith as the Atlantic engulfed him. Another said he returned to the wheelhouse, standing at attention until the end. After issuing the final command to abandon ship, he reportedly also spoke the words required by protocol.
The Titanic lies nearly 4,000 metres under the surface of the Atlantic Ocean. Visibility is limited, and traditional submarines could only capture small parts of the wreck. The scanning was intended to create a "digital twin" for a detailed examination of the ship. Out of the 2,200 people on board, roughly 1,500 perished.
National Geographic and Atlantic Productions conducted the project to scan the wreck. "It's like a crime scene: you need to see what the evidence is, in the context of where it is. And having a comprehensive view of the entirety of the wreck site is key to understanding what happened here," said Titanic analyst Parks Stephenson, quoted by The Mirror. We need to see what the evidence is. A comprehensive picture of the disaster site is crucial to understanding what happened there.
