The Dyatlov Pass incident remains a profoundly unsettling mystery: in 1959, nine individuals were discovered deceased in the remote Ural Mountains, and the circumstances surrounding their deaths have never received a fully satisfactory explanation. However, recent investigations employ simulation technologies from diverse fields to present what is arguably the most credible account of this tragic event.

The research, released yesterday in Nature Communications Earth and Environment, was accompanied by an accessible overview in National Geographic, which is highly recommended reading. (Despite the common headline format of “Has science solved…?”)

The core of the enigma lies in these details: the eight students and their instructor established their campsite on a hillside that appeared reasonably secure—while not ideal, it was comparatively safe given the challenging terrain of Kholat Syakhl, known as “Dead Mountain”—but were subsequently found scattered across the landscape, partially clothed and suffering severe injuries. The extent of the damage appeared to exceed what would typically result from an avalanche, and initial assessments indicated no evidence or likelihood of one occurring.

For over six decades, this event has fueled speculation and conspiracy theories, particularly due to perceived attempts at concealment by the Soviet government. Even a renewed investigation by Russia in 2019 failed to deliver a definitive explanation.

Now, Alexander Puzrin and Johan Gaume, researchers from Switzerland’s ETH Zürich and EPFL—both highly respected and advanced technical universities—have entered the investigation. Driven by their own curiosity, they sought to determine definitively what transpired. An interesting personal note:

It is a truly baffling case!

In any case, the researchers developed a new hypothesis based on several key considerations.

Firstly, the slope’s angle was more precarious than initially assessed—it was close to the threshold required for an avalanche, and the snowpack contained a base layer prone to slippage. Strong winds could have added weight to the snow and triggered a slide beneath the location where the group pitched their tent.

Secondly, Gaume consulted with the creators of the film “Frozen,” renowned for its remarkably realistic snow simulations. He connected with Disney’s snow simulation expert and obtained permission to utilize and adapt the code—in this instance, to model the effects of an avalanche on sleeping individuals. Their simulations demonstrated that even a relatively small avalanche—a block of icy snow comparable in size to a car—could inflict the devastation observed by the rescue team.

Thirdly, they incorporated data from research conducted by GM, which involved analyzing the rib fractures sustained by one hundred cadavers—for the purpose of refining seatbelt designs. They reasoned that, as the Russian students were sleeping with skis on, their bodies would have reacted to impacts in a similar manner to the cadavers with rigid support structures. This could explain the severe, non-suffocation related injuries, rather than the typical asphyxiation seen in avalanche victims.

While still reliant on a degree of conjecture, the significance of this work lies in the fact that by integrating these diverse, relatively objective measurements, Puzrin and Gaume demonstrate the possibility that an avalanche was responsible for the Dyatlov Pass incident, despite the rarity of the necessary conditions.

The researchers acknowledge that their explanation may not be universally accepted—"It’s too ordinary,” Gaume stated—and that the incident will likely continue to inspire conspiracy theories and imaginative scenarios for years to come. However, for some, it may provide a measure of comfort: a plausible explanation that these nine individuals were simply unfortunate victims of circumstance.