To the dismay of paleontologists and researchers in the field, a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton set a record after being auctioned at Sotheby's for $50.1 million. It's the latest in a trend that turns scientific specimens and artifacts into collector's items for the uber-wealthy, a trend that has been largely condemned by the people who want to keep these fossil records out of the luxury collectibles industry and firmly in the public trust. It is legitimately gatekeeping science; a 2025 study of T. rex skeletons found that at the time, there were just 61 fossils in public trusts compared to 71 privately held. Museums simply cannot compete against a committed -illionaire.
-- NumLock News (16 July 2026) by Walt Hickey, citing "What science loses when T. rex becomes a trophy" by Kristi Curry Rogers at The Conversation
No comments:
Post a Comment