The chemistry of sunken artifacts

Sailors’ right-handed chemistry In some ancient cultures, left-handedness was considered more than just not-right, but downright wicked. Lefties could even be accused of witchcraft. Their only real option then was to become righties. So when studying the skeletal remains recovered from a sunken warship from Tudor England, the Mary Rose , scientists kept this context at hand ( PLOS One 2024, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0311717 ). Commissioned by Henry VIII, the Mary Rose served for 34 years. In July 1545, the clash between the fleets of France and England during the Battle of the Solent, north of the Isle of Wight, proved to be the vessel’s last. According to testimony from one of the few surviving crew, the ship was turning to aim its guns when a fierce wind struck. As the ship lost control, cold water rushed in through the open gunports, tragically sinking it. The Mary Rose lay at the