On April 15^th, 1912, the RMS Titanic struck an iceberg and sank on its maiden voyage, killing more than 1500 people.

Now, a new book theorizes that the tragedy was exacerbated by sub-standard materials and labor used in ship’s construction. According to a New York Times report, the new theory alleges that the great ship’s builders were forced by shortages to use sub-standard iron rivets in the hull of the ship, installed by less-skilled riveters. If the rivets in the hull had been up to code, the ship may have stayed afloat longer after striking the iceberg, allowing more time for rescue efforts to reach the disaster site. The theory, of course, is controversial, and Harland and Wolff, the still-extant North Irish company that built the Titanic, denies the allegations.

Learn more about the Titanic and the scientific research that is helping us to understand it at Secrets of the Dead: Titanic’s Ghosts.