Over a century has passed since the Titanic, often described as ‘unsinkable,’ vanished into the Atlantic Ocean’s depths, taking with it thousands of people eager to explore the world. This tragic event has left one pressing question in people’s minds.
While many have seen the movie inspired by this maritime disaster and might feel knowledgeable about the event, much remained unclear until recent discoveries.
For those who have ventured to view the Titanic’s remains, it has been a deeply moving experience.
However, one common observation has been made by all who visit this underwater site.
Amidst the remnants of the ship, such as dishes, shoes, furniture, and treasures, one notable absence is apparent: there are no skeletons.
Though it is believed that 1,517 individuals perished when the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank in 1912, not a single body has been discovered on the ocean floor.
Many were left in the water, struggling to stay afloat, while others remained trapped inside the ship, their bodies unable to be carried away by currents.
Even though they were trapped inside, photographs of the wreckage reveal no skeletons among the debris.
This absence is primarily due to the wreck’s deep resting place, 3,800 meters below in the Atlantic Ocean.
Deep-sea bacteria can consume bone nutrients, removing passenger remains. Additionally, the seawater’s chemical composition changes with depth, contributing to the lack of skeletons.
Robert Ballard, the deep-sea explorer who discovered the Titanic wreck in 1985, explained that water at certain depths can dissolve bones.
He stated: “The water in the deep sea is under saturated in calcium carbonate, which is mostly, you know, what bones are made of.”
“For example, on the Titanic and on the Bismarck, those ships are below the calcium carbonate compensation depth, so once the critters eat their flesh and expose the bones, the bones dissolve.”
“Now in the Black Sea, because there’s no critters to eat, the bones should not be exposed. So you should have perfectly mummified fossils.”
The ship sank with furniture and belongings on board. (-/AFP via Getty Images)
This revelation has left internet users astonished, with many expressing their surprise on platforms like Reddit.
One commented, “I thought they’d be squished into jelly…”
Another questioned, “Wait, since when do dead people sink?” while someone else humorously added, “The sea is human broth, confirmed?”
An image to ponder, perhaps.
Though no skeletons remain, evidence of passengers is found in the form of their shoes.
The treated leather of shoes resists the chemical effects of the water, leaving behind the only remnants of the passengers— the shoes they wore on that ill-fated day.