Unveiling the Titanic: New scans reveal tragic secrets
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 highly detailed scans with "cinematic sharpness" to understand the disaster further. The publication also recounts Captain Smith's last words and final actions, which may not be widely known.
New, detailed 3D scans of the Titanic wreck, created from over 700,000 photos taken by underwater robots, comprehensively examine the damage sustained after the ship collided with an iceberg on April 14, 1912. Experts can better understand how the boat split into two parts and assess the subsequent consequences. Britain’s The Mirror reports this achievement.
According to the publication, the scans offer a fresh perspective on the Titanic wreck. The twisted steel and exposed interiors are visible. The photos boast "cinematic sharpness" and capture the tragedy experienced by those who perished in the disaster. This marks the first time the wreck has been scanned with such precision. Captain Edward John Smith was among the victims, commanding the Titanic. This was intended to be his last voyage before retirement.
In the famous movie about the disaster, he is depicted clinging to the helm as water floods his room. Others assert 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 survivor Robert Williams Daniel, quoted by The Mirror.
According to survivors, his last words were "Be British," a calm command amid the chaos. The captain assisted passengers to the end, focusing on women and children, and refused to leave his post. A steward recounted seeing Smith as the Atlantic claimed him. Another claimed he returned to the wheelhouse, standing at attention until the end. After issuing the final order to abandon ship, he supposedly followed protocol as his last act.
The Titanic rests nearly 2.5 miles under the Atlantic Ocean's surface. Visibility is limited, and traditional submarines could only capture small sections of the wreck. The scanning project aimed to create a "digital twin," allowing for a thorough examination of the ship. Of the 2,200 people on board, around 1,500 perished.
National Geographic and Atlantic Productions undertook 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," Titanic analyst Parks Stephenson told The Mirror.
