The bad news emerged on Thursday. Wreckage was found, two miles down in the Atlantic Ocean, close to the wreck of the Titanic, which all but confirmed that the submersible Titan had suffered a catastrophic accident. The most likely scenario, according to the experts, was “implosion” – a sudden total failure of the pressure hull. All five men on board had likely been killed instantaneously.
All week, people have been discussing the situation on social media. It was clear almost from the start that something terrible had happened, and that it would be near-miraculous if the passengers could be rescued. Many therefore took the view that this was a case of hubris, of the folly of rich men being punished by the universe with devastating finality. Others were more sympathetic. Descending more than two miles to the seafloor to view what remains of the Titanic may not count as exploration exactly, since so many have done it before, but such an endeavour retains an echo of the great adventures of the past, given the danger involved.
