An implosion occurs when external pressure causes an object to collapse inward. Unlike an explosion, which expels matter and energy outward, an implosion involves rapid, forceful compression.
The Forces of Implosion
Implosion events occur when external pressure overwhelms an object’s internal pressure and structural integrity. In deep-sea environments, the immense weight of the water above exerts hydrostatic pressure that increases significantly with depth. For instance, at the depths where the Titanic wreck rests, the pressure can be as high as 5,500 to 6,000 pounds per square inch (PSI), which is approximately 380 times the pressure at the surface. This force can be likened to having the weight of the Eiffel Tower pressing down on an object.
When a structure can no longer withstand this external force, rapid pressure equalization occurs, leading to an inward collapse. This process happens with extreme speed, often within milliseconds. For example, a submarine hull can collapse inward at approximately 1,500 miles per hour, or 2,200 feet per second, resulting in a complete collapse in about 1 millisecond.
Immediate Physical Effects
When a human body is subjected to the forces of an implosion, the consequences are instantaneous. While human tissues are largely incompressible due to their high water content, air-filled spaces within the body, such as the lungs, sinuses, and gastrointestinal tract, would immediately collapse. This rapid compression leads to the crushing of organs like the lungs and internal bleeding as blood vessels burst.
The body is simultaneously compressed and dismembered. Soft tissues would be pulped or liquified, and bones would shatter or be crushed. The speed of an implosion is so extreme that there would be no time for pain or conscious awareness. The human brain’s fastest instinctual response is around 25 milliseconds, while the entire implosion can occur in as little as 1 to 20 milliseconds, making death virtually instantaneous.
The rapid compression of air within the confined space can also generate intense heat. In some implosion scenarios, the air can be compressed to temperatures nearing 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit, similar to the surface of the sun. This heat would contribute to the complete destruction of organic matter.
The State of the Body After Implosion
Following an implosion, the physical remains of a body are unrecognizable and extremely difficult to recover. The forces involved lead to the complete disintegration of soft tissues, often reducing them to a gel-like consistency or “jam-like” remains. These remnants may be ejected at high velocity from the imploding structure.
Bones, while denser, would also undergo severe fragmentation and crushing. Due to this extreme pulverization, any remaining material is scattered and sparse. The challenges of forensic identification in such circumstances are profound, as traditional methods rely on more intact remains. While DNA can sometimes be recovered from highly fragmented biological samples, the sheer destructive power of an implosion often leaves little to work with for identification.