1. Confirmation of the Titanic Splitting in Two

When a team of researchers led by Robert Ballard finally found the wreck in 1985, it was obviously the first time anyone had seen the Titanic since its sinking. But discovering the huge ship actually ended a 73-year-old dispute over whether or not it had split in two.

So here’s one of the most important Titanic facts: the ship was found in two pieces, confirming a theory that had been ignored at the time of the tragedy’s reporting.

Until the discovery of the wreckage, it was thought that the gigantic ship had sunk in one piece. Moreover, in order to protect the White Star Line’s reputation, Second Officer Charles Herbert Lightoller stated that it sank “absolutely intact.”

However, despite this, several passengers insisted they heard explosions that led to the ship breaking in two. They didn’t necessarily see how it sank, but they swore it broke in half.