Rachel Lance is an American biomedical engineer and physiologist recognized for her extensive research into diving physiology, hyperbaric medicine, and the biomechanics of pressure-related injuries. Her work frequently investigates historical diving incidents and the physiological stresses experienced by individuals in extreme underwater environments.
Early Life and Education Rachel Lance pursued her higher education at Duke University, where she earned her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering. Her doctoral research laid the groundwork for her subsequent investigations into biomechanics and the physiological effects of high-pressure environments.
Career and Research Lance's career has been dedicated to understanding the intricate ways the human body responds to the stresses of deep-sea diving. She employs a multidisciplinary approach, combining experimental methodologies, advanced computational modeling, and meticulous historical analysis to unravel the causes and mechanisms of diving accidents and illnesses.
One of her most significant and widely recognized contributions involves her research into the mysterious disappearance of the H.L. Hunley, the Confederate submarine that became the first to successfully sink an enemy warship during the American Civil War before vanishing with its entire crew. Through rigorous scientific investigation, including recreating aspects of the submarine's internal environment and simulating the effects of its torpedo explosion, Lance developed a compelling theory that the Hunley crew likely perished from a concussive "blast wave" generated by the detonation of their own torpedo against the target vessel. This theory, detailed in her 2020 book In the Waves: My Quest to Solve the Mystery of a Civil War Submarine, offered a new perspective on the crew's fate, challenging previous hypotheses such as suffocation or complications from decompression sickness.
Beyond the Hunley, Lance has applied her expertise to other historical diving enigmas. For instance, her research into the 1920s death of diver Horace Smeltzer, initially attributed to decompression sickness, suggested an alternative cause of death: a gas embolism. Her findings have provided valuable insights into early diving fatalities and the evolving understanding of diving physiology.
As an academic, Rachel Lance serves as an Assistant Professor at the Duke University Center for Hyperbaric Medicine & Environmental Physiology. In this role, she continues her groundbreaking research into diving science and hyperbaric medicine, contributing to both academic understanding and public awareness of these complex fields. Her work has been published in numerous scientific journals and popular science outlets, and she is often sought out by media for her expertise on diving-related topics.
Selected Publications
- In the Waves: My Quest to Solve the Mystery of a Civil War Submarine (Dutton, 2020) – A non-fiction book chronicling her research into the H.L. Hunley and her theory regarding the crew's demise.