Ask A Genius 1480: Deep Ocean Implosions and the Ethical Collapse in Gaza
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): Ask A Genius
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/08/08
Rick Rosner discusses the catastrophic consequences of submersible implosions at extreme ocean depths, clarifying earlier misconceptions and emphasizing the near-instantaneous nature of such deaths. The conversation shifts to Israel’s military actions in Gaza and the West Bank, where Rosner critiques the disproportionate violence and political motivations behind the ongoing conflict. While acknowledging the justice in confronting Hamas, he condemns the execution of the war as corrupt and potentially genocidal, reflecting on global inaction and moral failures.
Rick Rosner: I was thinking more about what happens when you’re three miles deep in the ocean and your submersible fails.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Why were you thinking about that?
Rosner: I had made some inaccurate comments earlier and wanted to clarify. The analogy I used—saying it is like having 20,000 forty-five-pound plates on you—was oversimplified. In reality, pressure increases by about one atmosphere (14.7 psi) every 33 feet underwater. At a depth of three miles—around 15,840 feet—that amounts to approximately 7,000 psi, or about 470 atmospheres.
If your submersible implodes at that depth, the effect is instantaneous and catastrophic. The water at a depth of three miles is about 1% denser than at the surface. While inside the sub, you remain under normal atmospheric pressure—until the hull fails. When that happens, the pressure difference causes an immediate collapse.
So death occurs instantly, not just due to the collapse of air pockets in the body, but because the entire body is subjected to extreme compression. Soft tissues and fluids are not spared. You essentially get obliterated. It’s not like being neatly reduced to a skeleton—it’s more like being shredded and compacted simultaneously.
But the person is already dead by the time this happens. The time between hull failure and death is less than a second. That submersible expedition—the Titan—was an act of negligence. The person who authorized that trip made reckless decisions, resulting in preventable deaths.
Jacobsen: Moving on, has anyone modelled or simulated what happens during such an implosion?
Rosner: Probably. I have not searched for it, but someone has likely developed a simulation. Modern AI could generate the code for such a simulation quickly—hundreds of lines of accurate code within minutes. For example, it can already simulate complex aerodynamics with high precision.
Jacobsen: Shifting topics—Reuters reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu announced Israel intends to take military control of all of Gaza.
Rosner: Netanyahu and members of his far-right cabinet have been accused of war crimes by international organizations. While debates continue over whether the situation in Gaza meets the legal definition of genocide, the International Court of Justice has found plausible grounds to investigate Israel for potential genocidal acts.
Many observers believe Netanyahu is prolonging the war for political reasons, including avoiding prosecution on unrelated corruption charges. That assessment is widely shared. He is often compared to Trump for his tactics and disregard for institutional norms. While Israel has legitimate security concerns regarding Hamas and other militant groups, there are less destructive ways to pursue those objectives.
Jacobsen: What about the West Bank?
Rosner: The West Bank situation is also deeply inequitable. According to the United Nations, more than 500 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces and settlers in 2023 alone—the highest figure in over 15 years. In contrast, around 30 to 40 Israeli soldiers and settlers were killed in comparable periods. The disparity is stark, often exceeding of 10 to 1 ratio.
That suggests the occupation is not just about security, but also systemic control and expansion. Settlements continue to expand, often displacing Palestinians. Far-right elements within the Israeli government support this expansion with minimal accountability.
What, if anything, can the global community do? Not much, aside from issuing condemnations. Historically, many wars have unfolded with limited global intervention, particularly in regions like Africa. Every U.S. administration has presided over an international landscape filled with injustice. What makes today’s conflicts, like those in Gaza and Ukraine, different is their visibility and political impact in the West.
It brings home the point that when you have a corrupt leader willing to wage war, you cannot simply beat them or shut them down, even if the war itself is unjust.
Jacobsen: Would you say this war is unjust?
Rosner: No. The Israel–Hamas war is just in its premise—Hamas committed atrocities and must be held accountable—but the means of prosecuting it have become corrupt and, arguably, genocidal.
Over 1,200 Gazans have been killed just attempting to access food at distribution points. Israeli forces have opened fire or dropped bombs in those areas.
The way the war is being conducted is unjust. While Hamas deserves to be dismantled, not everyone in Gaza deserves to suffer or die. Israel has killed about 3% of the Gaza population. That number is devastating. Every person in Gaza now faces the possibility of being unjustly killed, as Israeli forces push civilians around, bombing and shooting with semi-indiscriminate tactics.
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