ItalyA Tyrannosaurus rex named Gus sold at Sotheby's auction in New York for $50.1 million, setting a new world record for the most expensive fossil ever sold. Discovered by commercial paleontologist Thomas Heitkamp between 2021 and 2023 on a ranch in South Dakota, Gus is one of the most complete T-Rex skeletons found, with 183 bones and parts of its anatomy well-preserved. The sale, part of Sotheby's 'Geek Week,' included other prehistoric finds like trilobites and dinosaur nests. However, the sale has sparked controversy among paleontologists who fear the fossil will become inaccessible to researchers once it enters private collection, as scientific journals typically do not publish research based on non-publicly accessible specimens. The buyer's identity remains undisclosed.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information about a scientific discovery and its market value without taking a political stance. It reports on the sale of a fossil, the background of its discovery, and the implications for scientific research, but does not frame the event in a politically charged or sl
