Auction of world's largest Mars meteorite sparks ownership debate
The hefty 54-pound (25-kilogram) stone is the largest Martian meteorite ever discovered on Earth, according to its Sotheby's listing, and was found in November 2023 in the vast Saharan desert in Niger.
The government of Niger has announced that it will open an investigation following the auction, saying it appears to "have all the characteristics of illicit international trafficking."
On Friday, the government suspended exports of precious stones and meteorites until further notice.
Sotheby's has rejected the accusations, insisting that the meteorite was "was exported from Niger and transported in line with all relevant international procedure."
In light of the controversy, however, a review of the case is underway, a Sotheby's spokesperson told AFP.
"The stone journeyed 140 million miles through space, and hurtled through Earth's atmosphere before crashing in the Sahara Desert," the Sotheby's listing said.
Following its discovery, the jagged, ochre-colored stone was then sold to an international dealer, briefly exhibited in Italy, and eventually ended up in the auction catalog in New York.
For American paleontologist Paul Sereno, who has worked closely with Niger's authorities for years, all signs suggest that the stone left the country "illicitly."
"Everybody's anonymous -- from the person who found it, the dealers, the guy who bought it, everybody's anonymous," he told AFP, making no secret of his frustration.
"If they had put on baseball gloves and caught the meteorite as was hurtling towards Earth before it landed in any country, they could claim it... but I'm sorry, it landed there. It belongs to Niger," he said.
- 'We should respect it' -
Laws governing the ownership of meteorites vary based on their point of impact.
In the United States, for example, if a rock falls on private land, the property owners have ownership rights.
In Niger, however, a law governs "national cultural patrimony," which includes rare mineralogical specimens, according to Matthieu Gounelle, a professor at France's National History Museum, and his father Max Gounelle, a French university professor.
Both are specialists in regulations governing the collection and sale of meteorites.
"In our opinion, there is no doubt that meteorites should be included among the rare mineralogical specimens" protected by Nigerien law, they told AFP.
Beyond the legal battle and the possible involvement of a trafficking network, the sale of the meteorite also raises science ethics questions.
The rock, named NWA 16788, has unique scientific research value.
Much larger than other Martian meteorites that have been recorded to date, it offers a unique insight into the geological history of the Red Planet.
Like other Martian meteorites, it is believed to have been ejected into space when an asteroid slammed into Mars.
"This is nature's heritage. In many ways, it's world heritage, and it's telling us things about the cosmos. We should respect it," Sereno said.
"It's not something to my mind that should be auctioned up to potentially disappear into someone's mantle."
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News.com.au
5 days ago
- News.com.au
Auction of world's largest Mars meteorite sparks ownership debate
The recent auction of a Martian meteorite -- for a record-grabbing $5.3 million at Sotheby's New York -- has sparked questions over its provenance and renewed debate over who gets to claim rocks fallen from the heavens. The hefty 54-pound (25-kilogram) stone is the largest Martian meteorite ever discovered on Earth, according to its Sotheby's listing, and was found in November 2023 in the vast Saharan desert in Niger. The government of Niger has announced that it will open an investigation following the auction, saying it appears to "have all the characteristics of illicit international trafficking." On Friday, the government suspended exports of precious stones and meteorites until further notice. Sotheby's has rejected the accusations, insisting that the meteorite was "was exported from Niger and transported in line with all relevant international procedure." In light of the controversy, however, a review of the case is underway, a Sotheby's spokesperson told AFP. "The stone journeyed 140 million miles through space, and hurtled through Earth's atmosphere before crashing in the Sahara Desert," the Sotheby's listing said. Following its discovery, the jagged, ochre-colored stone was then sold to an international dealer, briefly exhibited in Italy, and eventually ended up in the auction catalog in New York. For American paleontologist Paul Sereno, who has worked closely with Niger's authorities for years, all signs suggest that the stone left the country "illicitly." "Everybody's anonymous -- from the person who found it, the dealers, the guy who bought it, everybody's anonymous," he told AFP, making no secret of his frustration. "If they had put on baseball gloves and caught the meteorite as was hurtling towards Earth before it landed in any country, they could claim it... but I'm sorry, it landed there. It belongs to Niger," he said. - 'We should respect it' - Laws governing the ownership of meteorites vary based on their point of impact. In the United States, for example, if a rock falls on private land, the property owners have ownership rights. In Niger, however, a law governs "national cultural patrimony," which includes rare mineralogical specimens, according to Matthieu Gounelle, a professor at France's National History Museum, and his father Max Gounelle, a French university professor. Both are specialists in regulations governing the collection and sale of meteorites. "In our opinion, there is no doubt that meteorites should be included among the rare mineralogical specimens" protected by Nigerien law, they told AFP. Beyond the legal battle and the possible involvement of a trafficking network, the sale of the meteorite also raises science ethics questions. The rock, named NWA 16788, has unique scientific research value. Much larger than other Martian meteorites that have been recorded to date, it offers a unique insight into the geological history of the Red Planet. Like other Martian meteorites, it is believed to have been ejected into space when an asteroid slammed into Mars. "This is nature's heritage. In many ways, it's world heritage, and it's telling us things about the cosmos. We should respect it," Sereno said. "It's not something to my mind that should be auctioned up to potentially disappear into someone's mantle."
West Australian
6 days ago
- West Australian
Environment Minister says ‘global action' is needed to save WA's Ningaloo Reef, rejects 2030 target
WA's Environment Minister says global action is more important than a local 2030 emissions target, after scientists revealed the extent of a 'catastrophic' coral bleaching event at Ningaloo Reef. While researchers are still assessing the damage caused by a marine heatwave, the Australian Institute of Marine Science has confirmed the worst bleaching ever recorded off the WA coast. 'The length and intensity of the heat stress, and its footprint across multiple regions, is something we've never seen before on most of the reefs in WA,' the institute's senior research scientist James Gilmour said. 'Areas which had given us hope because they'd rarely or not bleached before, like the Rowley Shoals, north Kimberley and Ningaloo, have been hit hard this time.' Sensitive to heat stress, corals expel the algae living in their tissues in warm water, causing the coral to go pale. Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourne said the Government was monitoring the situation and was 'obviously' concerned. 'I went up to Exmouth and to the North-West Cape a couple of weeks ago, got a chance to see it for myself,' he said on Tuesday. 'It was obvious to me that this was not the normal state of the reef. 'In terms of the imperative around climate, it doesn't change that. It's been an imperative for a long time . . . we remain committed to dealing with our carbon emissions. 'We're getting out of coal in WA, we're pushing forward a renewable energy program that will hopefully see us decarbonising our economy as effectively as we can.' Mr Swinbourne said Labor's climate legislation, that was shelved before the March election is being re-written. He rejected the Greens' private members bill, being put to Parliament on Thursday, that would legislate a 2030 target for emissions. 'We need to be careful in terms of what we set and what we can achieve,' Mr Swinbourne said. 'What you want to do is you want to make achievable targets. It's all well and good to send a virtual signaling type of target, which is often advocated by the Greens, but actually these things don't happen in a vacuum. 'They affect other areas of our economy, other areas of our lives and so there's always a balance with these sorts of things.' Bleaching is not always fatal but if underwater heat is prolonged and severe, corals can die. Sea surface temperatures around Australia last summer were the warmest on record since 1900, with coral heat stress peaking in January. Conditions varied across the tropical reefs spanning 1500km - from 'extreme', or 90 per cent bleached or dead, to 'medium', somewhere between 11 per cent and 30 per cent. Mermaid and Clerke reefs in the Rowley Shoals, 300km west of Broome, recorded 'very high' levels of mortality, between 61 per cent and 90 per cent. The World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef, known for its whale sharks, experienced 'high' bleaching and mortality between 31 per cent and 60 per cent. Dr Gilmour said climate change was driving the increased frequency and severity of mass coral bleaching events and giving them little time to bounce back in between. 'They need 10 to 15 years to recover fully,' he said. 'The key to helping coral reefs survive under climate change is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.' Mr Swinbourne called it a 'global level' event and said WA cannot go it alone. 'All that we could do in WA is likely to be meaningless if we don't have global action on climate change,' he said. 'The issue there is we have seen some of our big partners walk away from their commitments and that's what's most alarming because the efforts that we take here in WA will be paled into insignificance. 'It's a matter of public record that the US has walked away from many of its commitments. We have seen, of course, parts of the Liberal party here in WA throw up their climate denialism and walking away from a net zero target by 2050, which is also alarming.' Outside Parliament on Tuesday, Liberal leader Basil Zempilas didn't want to talk about his support for the 'status quo' on net zero. 'That's not my focus today, I might add that it's not the focus of the West Australians that I've spoken to in the last 24 hours,' he said. 'Today's focus for this State Government, and for us as the Opposition, is an accountability and transparency in the health area.' Greens MP Sophie McNeill accused both major parties of inaction and said WA's tourism industry will pay the price. 'More than 1000 West Australians work in Exmouth in tourism, they love that reef,' she said. 'And their hearts are broken. It was absolutely shocking to see what's happened to our beautiful Ningaloo on this Government's watch. 'It is the worst Government in the whole country when it comes to climate action. No 2030 target, no renewable energy target and now our stunning beautiful world heritage Ningaloo is dying on its watch.' The updates on coral health land ahead of the expected release of the Federal Government's 2035 climate goals, due in September under the Paris Agreement rules.
News.com.au
11-08-2025
- News.com.au
Inside the deadly curse of King Tut's tomb
The curse of King Tut's tomb is back – with a twist. Tutankhamun was a minor Egyptian pharaoh. The Boy King left barely a mark on history's page and even that was expunged by his political opponents – until his fabulously wealthy tomb was discovered in 1922. Aspergillus flavus is a common toxic fungus. It rises out of soil to spoil farm produce. It clings to indoor surfaces. However, a recent discovery has revealed a wealth of medical potential. Both the pharaoh and the mould, however, have a serious blemish to their reputation. And that's because of wild speculation surrounding the deaths of those who unsealed his sepulchre. Did a spiritual spell lay dormant for 3243 years, only to be triggered when British archaeologist Howard Carter broke the seal to see 'wonderful things'? Or was, as those seeking a more earthly explanation believed, a malicious mould lurking in the shadows – ready to wreak havoc among all those who dared disturb its rest? Both, it turns out, have been falsely accused. Now, just as the treasures of Tutankhamun have enlightened millions to the wonders of the ancient world, Aspergillus flavus may be on the brink of being redeemed. Scientists probing its long-neglected properties have discovered it could ultimately help save the lives of millions of leukaemia sufferers. A roaring 20s conspiracy theory It was a fascinating concept: An ancient curse wreaking havoc in defence of the dead. The story swept through a world still struggling to come to grips with the industrial-scale massacre of World War I. ' The story of a young man with a family who had died before his time resonated with many,' argues Egyptologist Claire Gilmour. 'Tutankhamun was a burst of glorious colour in a dark time, which came with the extra draw of the mysteries of the tomb and eternal life.' Everybody involved in the discovery and excavation of Tutankhamun's tomb was an instant celebrity. There was the mystery Boy King. The vindication of a persistent archaeologist. The playboy financier from Britain's landed gentry. Then, several months after the discovery, Lord Carnarvon died in Cairo at the age of 56. And the lights of that exotic city winked out. Famous Sherlock Holmes author Arthur Conan Doyle leapt on the seeds of inspiration: He told US media that 'an evil elemental' enslaved by ancient Egyptian priests to guard King Tut's remains could have been behind the Earl's demise. That triggered a swarm of speculation. And, as more associated with the tomb's opening (no matter how remotely) died, the frenzy grew. Prince Ali Kamel Fahmy Bey of Egypt was shot dead in 1923 by his French wife at the swanky Savoy Hotel in London. Sir Archibald Douglas Reid, 53, died from an unknown illness in 1924. The experimental radiologist is believed to have X-ray Tut's mummified remains days earlier. British colonial politician Sir Lee Stack was assassinated in Cairo in 1924. Excavator Arthur Mace died of arsenic poisoning in 1928. And Carnarvon's secretary, Richard Bethell, was smothered to death in his bed in 1929. Howard Carter dismissed talk of a curse as 'Tommy rot'. He argued only a handful of the hundreds associated with his work had died. And that was bound to happen anyway as the decades passed. Carter himself died in London in 1939 at the age of 64. He had been diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease – a cancer that attacks the immune system. Cut from the same mould Tombs are not healthy places. Depending on their environment, they can host a full spectrum of bacteria – including toxic Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus. Airtight containers, including sarcophagi, could release toxic fumes such as ammonia, formaldehyde, and hydrogen sulphide. Laboratory tests have also confirmed mummified Egyptian remains can carry mould. Two types, in particular, have been detected: Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus. Both are toxic. Allergic reactions include respiratory congestion and bleeding in the lungs. '(Aspergillus flavus) is infamous for its ability to survive in harsh environments, including the sealed chambers of ancient tombs, where it can lie dormant for thousands of years,' argues biomedical scientist Professor Justin Stebbing. Its spores are particularly damaging among people with weakened immune systems. 'This may explain the so-called 'curse' of King Tutankhamun and similar incidents, such as the deaths of several scientists who entered the tomb of Casimir IV in Poland in the 1970s,' the Professor adds. 'In both cases, investigations later found that A-flavus was present, and its toxins were probably responsible for the illnesses and deaths.' American railroad executive and financier George Gould fell sick immediately after visiting the Valley of the Kings excavation. He died of pneumonia a few months later. Was Gould a victim of a villainous mould that the medical journal The Lancet dubbed ' Pharaoh's Curse '? Despite being tried, convicted and sentenced, Aspergillus flavus has been given a chance to redeem its reputation. University of Pennsylvania researchers have discovered the fungus produces a unique type of molecule with the potential to fight cancer. 'Experiments revealed that asperigimycins probably disrupt the process of cell division in cancer cells,' Professor Stebbing explains. 'Cancer cells divide uncontrollably, and these compounds appear to block the formation of microtubules, the scaffolding inside cells that are essential for cell division.' These initial tests have so far proven the fungus-derived treatment is at least as effective as existing leukaemia-treating drugs. ' Fungi gave us penicillin,' the study's lead author, Sherry Gao, said in a press statement. 'These results show that many more medicines derived from natural products remain to be found.' Guilty, until proven innocent 'The oft-quoted curse 'Death will come on swift wings to him who disturbs the peace of the king' does not actually appear anywhere in (Tut's) tomb,' University of Bristol archaeologist Gilmour points out. 'There are real ancient Egyptian curses, but this was not one. Tutankhamun's curse stemmed from a media battle for readership.' Among the harshest curses found inside Tut's tomb was 'may he walk over his enemies'… stamped into the soles of his slippers. 'Research since has thoroughly debunked the idea that those present at the opening met an untimely end,' Gilmour adds. 'Only a handful of people who were there at the opening died within the next decade and Howard Carter, who would have been a primary target for a curse, died in 1939.' And Carter was partly to blame for the myth that grew to overwhelm his work. Amid the chaos and excitement of the discovery, he reportedly encouraged the idea of a curse as a means of scaring away aspiring pillagers and over-enthusiastic tourists. Then there's Lord Carnarvon. He only became a sponsor of archaeology after a high-speed car accident in 1901 compressed his lungs. The critically ill 5th Earl was advised to seek warmer weather. But that didn't protect him from blood poisoning after a cut became infected among Cairo's less than sanitary conditions (and frequent power failures). Princess Marguerite Alibert was exonerated for the murder of her husband on the basis of domestic abuse. Sir Reid had been working with poorly understood radiological material. Sir Stack was killed in a political dispute. And the deaths of Mace and Bethell had mundane – if perhaps murderous – explanations. The early 2000s attribution of blame on Aspergillus flavus also generated a media frenzy. But is 'Pharaoh's Curse' an unwarranted reputation? 'Upper Egypt in the 1920s was hardly what you'd call sanitary,' Dr DeWolfe Miller, Professor of epidemiology, told National Geographic in 2005. 'The idea that an underground tomb, after 3000 years, would have some kind of bizarre microorganism in it that's going to kill somebody six weeks later and make it look exactly like (blood poisoning) is very hard to believe.' Professor Miller concluded: 'I take the position that Howard Carter took before me. 'Given the sanitary conditions of the time in general, and those within Egypt in particular, Lord Carnarvon would likely have been safer in the tomb than outside.' And Aspergillus flavus – found almost everywhere grain is stored – may not be the villain it is made out to be 'The discovery of asperigimycins is a reminder that even the most unlikely sources – such as a toxic tomb fungus – can hold the key to revolutionary new treatments,' Professor Stebbing concludes. 'As researchers continue to explore the hidden world of fungi, who knows what other medical breakthroughs may lie just beneath the surface?'
