Sotheby's big T. rex auction raises concerns hype and wealth are upending science
Sotheby's is auctioning a rare, 67-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton named Gus, which is expected to fetch up to $30 million. Paleontologists are concerned that the trend of private collectors purchasing significant fossils as luxury assets is depriving the scientific community of valuable research specimens.
Why it matters
The privatization of scientifically significant fossils limits public access to natural history and hinders paleontological research.
“a spectacular specimen” Sotheby’s big T. rex auction raises concerns hype and wealth are upending science Private buyers are increasingly outbidding museums for fossils.
6 Credit: Courtesy of Matthew Sherman/Sotheby's Credit: Courtesy of Matthew Sherman/Sotheby's Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav Forget the sale of the century. The auction house Sotheby’s has geared up for the sale of the epoch. On July 14 it opened live bidding on assorted fossils , but the pièce de résistance is lot 20, a rare 67-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton.
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