Latest news with #Ceratosaurusnasicornis
Mint
3 days ago
- Science
- Mint
Largest piece of Mars fetches $5.3 million at auction, young dinosaur skeleton steals the show
New York City recently hosted an auction of rare geological and archaeological objects, featuring the largest piece of Mars ever found which was sold for over $5 million. However, it was a rare young dinosaur skeleton which actually stole the show when it fetched more than $30 million in a bidding frenzy. The 54-pound (25-kilogram) rock, officially named NWA 16788 was sold for approximately $5.3 million, including fees and costs, making it the most valuable meteorite ever auctioned. The rock was discovered in the Sahara Desert, Niger by a meteorite hunter in November 2023, after it was blown off the surface of Mars by a massive asteroid strike, according to Sotheby's report, cited by AP. The red, brown and gray meteorite is about 70% larger than the next largest piece of Mars found on Earth and represents nearly 7% of all the Martian pieces currently on this planet, AP reported. Cassandra Hatton, vice chairman for science and natural history at Sotheby's highlighted the rarity of the find, noting that only 400 Martian meteorites out of the more than 77,000 officially recognized meteorites found on Earth are Martian. 'This Martian meteorite is the largest piece of Mars we have ever found by a long shot,' Hatton said. 'So it's more than double the size of what we previously thought was the largest piece of Mars.' Stealing the show was a rare young dinosaur skeleton that fetched an astounding $30.5 million, including fees and costs after a six minutes bidding war among six interested participants. The skeleton is identified as a Ceratosaurus nasicornis, which is one of only four known skeletons of its species and the only juvenile one. The species resemblesthe Tyrannosaurus rex but is smaller. The bidding began with a high advance offer of $6 million, quickly escalating during the live round with bids $500,000 higher than the last and later $1 million higher than the last before ending at $26 million. The winner plans to loan dinosaur skeleton to an institution, Sotheby's told AP. This sale marks the third-highest amount paid for a dinosaur at an auction. A Stegosaurus skeleton called 'Apex' holds the record after it was sold for $44.6 million last year at Sotheby's. Parts of the juvenile dinosaur were found in 1996 near Laramie, Wyoming, at Bone Cabin Quarry, which is considered a gold mine for dinosaur bones. It was acquired last year by Fossilogic, a Utah-based fossil preparation and mounting company. The skeleton is more than 6 feet (2 meters) tall and nearly 11 feet (3 meters) long, and is believed to belong to the lateJurassic period, about 150 million years ago. Ceratosaurus dinosaurs could grow up to 25 feet (7.6 meters) long, while the T. rex could be 40 feet (12 meters) long, the news agency reported.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Rare juvenile dinosaur 'Ceratosaurus' fossil sells for $30.5 million at Sotheby's auction
A rare juvenile Ceratosaurus fossil believed to be the only one of its kind sold for a jaw-dropping $30.5 million at Sotheby's on Wednesday(July 16). The fossil, uncovered in 1996 at Bone Cabin Quarry in Wyoming, is one of only four known Ceratosaurus skeletons ever discovered and the only juvenile among them. Measuring over six feet tall and nearly 11 feet long, the 150-million-year-old relic includes 139 fossilized bone elements, 57 of which form what Sotheby's calls a 'superb, virtually complete skull.' Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Healthcare others Artificial Intelligence Data Science MCA Management Cybersecurity Public Policy Design Thinking Product Management Project Management PGDM Technology Data Science Operations Management Others Data Analytics Leadership CXO MBA Degree Digital Marketing Finance healthcare Skills you'll gain: Financial Analysis in Healthcare Financial Management & Investing Strategic Management in Healthcare Process Design & Analysis Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Certificate Program in Healthcare Management Starts on Jun 13, 2024 Get Details Described by the auction house as 'one of the finest and most complete examples of its kind ever found,' the dinosaur far surpassed its $4 million to $6 million pre-sale estimate during a dramatic six-minute bidding war between six participants. It previously spent over two decades on display at the Museum of Ancient Life in Utah but has never been formally studied in scientific literature. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo by Taboola by Taboola Ceratosaurus nasicornis was a carnivorous dinosaur known for its distinctive nasal horn, long teeth, and bony armor along its spine and tail. The species roamed North America during the late Jurassic period. While Sotheby's says the unnamed buyer intends to loan the fossil to an institution, paleontologists remain cautious. Live Events 'Who has that kind of money to spend on a dinosaur? Certainly not any museums or educational institutions,' said Steve Brusatte, a paleontology professor at the University of Edinburgh. 'My fear is that this skeleton will disappear into the ether into a mansion or a bank vault.' Still, auction officials argue the private market can play a vital role in preserving and promoting scientific specimens. 'These stellar results underscore a deep and enduring fascination with the natural world,' said Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby's global head of science and natural history. 'What draws collectors is more than a passion for science; it's curiosity about the forces that shaped our planet.' The sale follows a trend of surging fossil prices , including last year's record-breaking $44.6 million sale of 'Apex,' a Stegosaurus skeleton that now resides at the American Museum of Natural History. 'Bottom line,' said Brusatte, 'a world where dinosaur skeletons can fetch tens of millions of dollars is not a world where dinosaurs will long be accessible to educate and inspire everyone.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Rare Ceratosaurus fossil sells for $30.5 million
Sign up for CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. A Ceratosaurus fossil that is one of only four known to exist has sold for $30.5 million at auction. The rare dinosaur fossil is 'one of the finest and most complete examples of its kind ever found,' auction house Sotheby's said in a statement published Wednesday. The specimen, which is the only juvenile Ceratosaurus fossil of the four, sold for multiples of its $4 million-$6 million estimate at Sotheby's New York following a six-minute battle between six different bidders. Ceratosaurus nasicornis was a meat-eating predator with a nasal horn, long teeth and bony armor that ran down its back and tail. Standing six feet, three inches (1.9 meters) tall and approximately 10 feet, eight inches (3.25 meters) long, this juvenile fossil is made up of 139 bone elements, of which 57 make up 'a superb virtually complete skull,' according to Sotheby's. It was found in 1996 at Bone Cabin Quarry in Wyoming and dates from the late Jurassic period, around 150 million years ago. The fossil was displayed at the Museum of Ancient Life in Thanksgiving Point, Utah, from 2000 to 2024 and has not been studied or described formally in a scientific journal, Sotheby's said. 'The buyer of the Ceratosaurus intends to loan it to an institution, as is fitting for a specimen of this rarity and importance,' the auction house said. In the same sale, a meteorite that is the largest known piece of Mars on Earth sold for $5.3 million. 'These stellar results underscore a deep and enduring fascination and respect for the natural world — from the farthest reaches of space to the ancient depths of the Earth. What draws collectors is more than just a passion for science; it's a deep-seated curiosity about the forces that have shaped our planet and beyond,' Cassandra Hatton, global head of science and natural history at Sotheby's, said in the statement. Mark Westgarth, a professor of history of the art market at the University of Leeds, England, told CNN that the sale 'is part of a recent resurgence of interest in fossils and natural history.' For example, Sotheby's also sold the most valuable fossil ever sold at auction, Apex the Stegosaur, which fetched $44.6 million in July 2024. 'At the top end of the market … seems to be about an increasing desire for 'distinction,'' said Westgarth. 'These dinosaur specimens also have a particular aesthetic — they are sculptural and awe inspiring.' For Steve Brusatte, a professor of paleontology and evolution at Scotland's University of Edinburgh, these kinds of price tags are shocking. 'Who has that kind of money to spend on a dinosaur? Certainly not any museums or educational institutions,' he told CNN. 'While I'm pleased that the buyer might loan the skeleton to a museum to be put on display, at this point it is just a vague suggestion. The buyer is still anonymous,' Brusatte added. 'My fear is that this skeleton will disappear into the ether, into the mansion of an oligarch or a bank vault to accumulate value as just another investment in the portfolio of a hedge fund, and not see the light of day until it's auctioned again, or maybe never at all,' he said. 'Bottom line, a world where dinosaur skeletons can fetch tens of millions of dollars within a few minutes at auctions is not a world where dinosaurs will long be accessible to educate and inspire everyone,' Brusatte added. However, Westgarth argues that there is a 'symbiotic' relationship between the market and wider research interests. He cites the example of Mary Anning, who discovered fossils on England's south coast in the early 19th century and went on to open a successful fossil shop. 'Here the market for fossils acted as a catalyst for research in public institutions in the 19th century, inculcating increasing attention and public interest and acting as a catalyst for increased research activity on dinosaur fossils,' said Westgarth, who argues that the fact that the buyer of the Ceratosaurus fossil 'has suggested that they will loan it to an institution only adds to its potential for future research activity.' Solve the daily Crossword
Gulf Insider
4 days ago
- Science
- Gulf Insider
At Sotheby's Auction, $30 Million Dinosaur Skeleton Stuns As Martian Meteorite Sets Record
A 54-pound fragment of Mars, dislodged by a cosmic collision and hurled 140 million miles to Earth, became the most valuable meteorite ever sold at auction on Wednesday. But it was a rare young dinosaur skeleton that captured the spotlight – fetching more than $30 million in a frenzied bidding battle. The meteorite, named NWA 16788, sold for $5.3 million after fees at Sotheby's auction of rare geological and archaeological objects. Described by Sotheby's as the largest piece of Mars ever found on Earth, the rock was discovered in November 2023 by a meteorite hunter scouring the Sahara Desert in Niger. Pre-sale estimates had placed its value between $2 million and $4 million. 'This Martian meteorite is the largest piece of Mars we have ever found by a long shot,' said Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby's vice chairman for science and natural history, ahead of the auction. Measuring nearly 15 inches long, the meteorite accounts for nearly 7 percent of all known Martian material on Earth. But while bidding for the Martian rock unfolded in careful increments – often coaxed along by the auctioneer – the atmosphere shifted when a juvenile Ceratosaurus nasicornis skeleton took center stage. Only four Ceratosaurus skeletons are known to exist, according to Sotheby's, and this specimen—the only juvenile among them—was fiercely contested. After opening at $6 million, the bidding surged in $500,000 and then $1 million increments, drawing gasps from the audience as six bidders drove the price to $26 million before fees. The official sale price, with premiums included, came to $30.5 million, making it the third-most expensive dinosaur skeleton ever sold at auction. The buyer, whose identity was not disclosed, plans to loan the skeleton to a public institution. Assembled from 140 fossilized bones unearthed in 1996 near Laramie, Wyoming, the juvenile Ceratosaurus stands more than six feet tall and stretches nearly 11 feet long. Its lineage dates back some 150 million years to the late Jurassic period. For comparison, adult Ceratosaurus specimens could grow up to 25 feet long—smaller than their more famous Tyrannosaurus rex cousins, which reached lengths of 40 feet. The skeleton's dramatic sale reflects a growing appetite among private collectors and institutions for rare paleontological specimens. Last year, Sotheby's sold a Stegosaurus skeleton nicknamed 'Apex' for a record-setting $44.6 million. By contrast, the Martian meteorite's record-breaking result unfolded with less spectacle. Two pre-auction offers, $1.9 million and $2 million, set the stage for a steady sequence of modest live bids. Final bidding stalled at $4.3 million, before fees lifted the total. Scientific analysis confirmed that NWA 16788 is an 'olivine-microgabbroic shergottite,' a type of volcanic rock formed from slowly cooling magma beneath Mars's surface. Testing by a specialized lab matched its chemical composition to Martian samples first analyzed by NASA's Viking landers in the 1970s. The meteorite's pitted glassy exterior – a result of superheating during atmospheric entry – offered the first clue that it was not, as Hatton said, 'just some big rock on the ground.' Both the meteorite and the dinosaur skeleton now stand as trophies of scientific and natural history, as well as reminders of the market's growing fascination with relics from Earth's past—and Mars's distant terrain.
CNN
4 days ago
- Science
- CNN
Rare ceratosaur fossil sells for $30.5 million
A Ceratosaurus fossil that is one of only four known to exist has sold for $30.5 million at auction. The rare dinosaur fossil is 'one of the finest and most complete examples of its kind ever found,' auction house Sotheby's said in a statement published Wednesday. The specimen, which is the only juvenile Ceratosaurus fossil of the four, sold for multiples of its $4 million-$6 million estimate at Sotheby's New York following a six-minute battle between six different bidders. Ceratosaurus nasicornis was a meat-eating predator with a nasal horn, long teeth and bony armor that ran down its back and tail. Standing six feet, three inches (1.9 meters) tall and approximately 10 feet, eight inches (3.25 meters) long, this juvenile fossil is made up of 139 bone elements, of which 57 make up 'a superb virtually complete skull,' according to Sotheby's. It was found in 1996 at Bone Cabin Quarry in Wyoming and dates from the late Jurassic period, around 150 million years ago. The fossil was displayed at the Museum of Ancient Life in Thanksgiving Point, Utah, from 2000 to 2024 and has not been studied or described formally in a scientific journal, Sotheby's said. 'The buyer of the Ceratosaurus intends to loan it to an institution, as is fitting for a specimen of this rarity and importance,' the auction house said. In the same sale, a meteorite that is the largest known piece of Mars on Earth sold for $5.3 million. 'These stellar results underscore a deep and enduring fascination and respect for the natural world — from the farthest reaches of space to the ancient depths of the Earth. What draws collectors is more than just a passion for science; it's a deep-seated curiosity about the forces that have shaped our planet and beyond,' Cassandra Hatton, global head of science and natural history at Sotheby's, said in the statement. Mark Westgarth, a professor of history of the art market at the University of Leeds, England, told CNN that the sale 'is part of a recent resurgence of interest in fossils and natural history.' For example, Sotheby's also sold the most valuable fossil ever sold at auction, Apex the Stegosaur, which fetched $44.6 million in July 2024. 'At the top end of the market … seems to be about an increasing desire for 'distinction,'' said Westgarth. 'These dinosaur specimens also have a particular aesthetic — they are sculptural and awe inspiring.' For Steve Brusatte, a professor of paleontology and evolution at Scotland's University of Edinburgh, these kinds of price tags are shocking. A massive and nearly complete fossilized stegosaurus skeleton nicknamed 'Apex' sold for a record-setting $44.6M at auction on video Towering stegosaurus skeleton sells for record-setting $44.6M at auction 'Who has that kind of money to spend on a dinosaur? Certainly not any museums or educational institutions,' he told CNN. 'While I'm pleased that the buyer might loan the skeleton to a museum to be put on display, at this point it is just a vague suggestion. The buyer is still anonymous,' Brusatte added. 'My fear is that this skeleton will disappear into the ether, into the mansion of an oligarch or a bank vault to accumulate value as just another investment in the portfolio of a hedge fund, and not see the light of day until it's auctioned again, or maybe never at all,' he said. 'Bottom line, a world where dinosaur skeletons can fetch tens of millions of dollars within a few minutes at auctions is not a world where dinosaurs will long be accessible to educate and inspire everyone,' Brusatte added. However, Westgarth argues that there is a 'symbiotic' relationship between the market and wider research interests. He cites the example of Mary Anning, who discovered fossils on England's south coast in the early 19th century and went on to open a successful fossil shop. 'Here the market for fossils acted as a catalyst for research in public institutions in the 19th century, inculcating increasing attention and public interest and acting as a catalyst for increased research activity on dinosaur fossils,' said Westgarth, who argues that the fact that the buyer of the Ceratosaurus fossil 'has suggested that they will loan it to an institution only adds to its potential for future research activity.'
