The Titanic Disappeared in 1912, Now It’s Disappearing Again: Scientists Scramble
The fabled RMS Titanic, which sank in 1912 in one of the most chronicled maritime disasters in history, is slowly vanishing as it sits on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. As noted by the Australian news outlet News.com…
The fabled RMS Titanic, which sank in 1912 in one of the most chronicled maritime disasters in History, is slowly vanishing as it sits on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean.
As noted by the Australian news outlet News.com, speculation exists that by 2030, much of the wreck could have thoroughly eroded.
A bacteria called “Halomonas titanicae” is eating away at the iron that makes up much of what was left after the ill-fated liner plunged to the bottom after hitting an iceberg on its maiden voyage.
“Yes, like all things, eventually, Titanic will vanish entirely. It will take a long time before the ship completely disappears, but the decomposition of the wreck is to be expected and is a natural process,” said Patrick Lahey, president and co-founder of Triton Submarines, according to Business Insider.
“The ship has certainly deteriorated just as one would expect a steel vessel to degrade over time,” Lahey said.
Paul-Henri Nargeolet, an oceanographer who explored the wreck as part of OceanGate’s inaugural Titanic Survey Expedition, returned last summer and noticed the change, according to Discover.
“Step by step, everything is collapsing,” he said. “And we will, I’m sure, next year, see some difference.”