Bathyscaphe “Titan”, which disappeared in the Atlantic Ocean on the way to the wreck of the “Titanic”, had to take water samples from the crash site of the ship. How writing newspaper The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), for this purpose, it was planned to use a relatively new method such as the study of environmental DNA (eDNA).
According to the newspaper, the American company OceanGate Expeditions was mainly used as a means of transporting tourists to the wreck, but the company also worked with researchers to collect “samples of marine life growing on the ship”.
“Using a relatively new technique known as environmental DNA, or eDNA, the pilot of the submersible planned to collect water samples around the crash site,” the post wrote, citing OceanGate’s emails. .
In the future, there were plans to study tiny fragments of floating genetic material left behind by organisms, according to the material. Steve Barrett, CEO of eDNAtec, confirmed to the WSJ that the genome technology company is partnering with OceanGate.
“The sinking of the Titanic created an oasis of biodiversity in an area of the ocean that’s usually pretty empty,” Barrett said.
According to him, eDNAtec is studying water samples taken during the OceanGate expedition to the Titanic in 2022.
Barrett said the Titan had a water-sampling device on the outside that the submersible’s pilot could control from inside. The aim of the project was to observe how the marine life around the wreck changes over time.
A representative of OceanGate itself, owner of the missing submersible, declined to comment to the newspaper.
Link to the couple who died on the Titanic
Five people were on board the Titan submersible, including the leader and founder of OceanGate Expeditions, Stockton Rush.
How Understood newspaper The New York Times (NYT), Rush’s wife, Wendy, is the descendant of two first-class passengers who died in the crash of the Titanic on the night of April 14-15, 1912.
According to records, Rush is the great-great-granddaughter of retail magnate Isidor Strauss and his wife, Ida, who were among the wealthiest people aboard the Titanic. Strauss, born in 1845, was part owner of Macy’s, America’s largest department store chain.
Wendy Rush, born Wendy Hollings Weil, married Stockton Rush in 1986, according to the NYT.
Rush’s ancestors who died in the sinking of the Titanic are known for their tragic love story. Survivors of the disaster recalled that Isidor Strauss had refused a place in a lifeboat as women and children waited for an opportunity to escape. Ida Strauss said she would not leave her husband.
The couple were seen holding hands on the deck of the Titanic as the ship sank.
About the chances of saving the crew of the missing “Titan” – in Russian media material.
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