Ever since RMS Titanic sank in 1912, scientists have sought to explain the “perfect storm of circumstances that conspired to doom” the “unsinkable” luxury liner.
Previous studies suggested that Titanic was done in by a confluence of extreme environmental conditions, but new research conducted at the University of Sheffield in England suggests that 1912 might not have been such an exceptional year after all. In fact, the researchers behind the new study think the threat icebergs pose to oceangoing ships is greater today than it was back in the day.
“While 1912 was a year with a significant number of icebergs, the number wasn’t outside previous records,” professor Grant Bigg, a senior lecturer in Earth systems science at the university, told The Huffington Post. “This is in contrast to previous views, which have suggested the iceberg risk was exceptional that year.”
