Ep 2. Arctic Ghost Ship

In NOVA Season 43, Episode 2 titled "Arctic Ghost Ship," viewers are taken on a journey into the heart of the Arctic Ocean as a team of marine scientists and archaeologists uncover the history behind a mysterious shipwreck that has been frozen in time for over 150 years. The shipwreck was discovered in 2014 by a Canadian team of explorers who were searching for the lost Franklin Expedition, a voyage led by British explorer Sir John Franklin in the 1840s that disappeared without a trace.

The Arctic Ghost Ship, as it has been named by the team of researchers, was found lying on the bottom of Nunavut's Victoria Strait, well-preserved due to the frigid waters that have kept it frozen in time. The team believes that the ship is the HMS Terror, one of two ships that disappeared along with Franklin's lead vessel, the HMS Erebus, in their quest to navigate the Northwest Passage. The discovery of the Arctic Ghost Ship has turned the long-standing mystery of the Franklin Expedition on its head, as researchers now have the opportunity to uncover new clues to the fate of the 129 crew members who perished during the expedition.

The episode chronicles the team's efforts to study the Arctic Ghost Ship and its contents. This includes an extensive dive into the wreckage using state-of-the-art equipment to survey the remains of the ship and its artifacts. The team also employs high-tech mapping tools to create a detailed picture of the ship and its surroundings, scouring the area for clues that could help piece together what happened to the Franklin Expedition. In addition, they examine the ship's logs and records, which were discovered in unprecedented condition, to get a glimpse into the daily lives and routines of the stranded crew members.

One of the most fascinating discoveries made by the team was the presence of lead in the wrecks of both the Erebus and Terror. Since lead was commonly used in the construction of water tanks and pipes during the 19th century, the team believes that the crew may have been exposed to high levels of lead poisoning from drinking the contaminated water. This theory may help explain why the crew members abandoned their ships in the middle of the bleak and frozen Arctic winter.

Throughout the episode, the team uncovers other artifacts and hints that point to the crew's dire situation. For example, they find a pair of woolen mittens covered in blood, suggesting that at least one crew member may have attempted to fend off an attacking polar bear. Additionally, the divers discover a pair of mass graves on the nearby Beechey Island, where three crew members were buried in 1846. The cause of their deaths has yet to be determined, but the team hopes that DNA analysis of their remains could yield new clues about the crew's final days.

The episode concludes by highlighting the larger historical significance of the Arctic Ghost Ship discovery. The Franklin Expedition was considered one of the greatest mysteries in the annals of exploration, and the discovery of the wrecks of the Erebus and Terror changes the way we view this crucial period in world history. As noted by the researchers, this discovery represents a turning point in Arctic archaeology and opens up new avenues of research for future generations.

Overall, "Arctic Ghost Ship" offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of Arctic exploration and the incredible scientific advancements that are helping uncover the past. The NOVA team's tireless efforts to piece together the mystery of the Franklin Expedition are both thrilling and heart-wrenching, giving viewers a sense of the numerous challenges and obstacles that these brave explorers faced in their quest to conquer the great unknown.