logo
#

Latest news with #SteveBrusatte

Anonymous buyer spends ₹263 crore to own 150-million-year-old dinosaur fossil; ‘Bezos or Musk?' wonders social media
Anonymous buyer spends ₹263 crore to own 150-million-year-old dinosaur fossil; ‘Bezos or Musk?' wonders social media

Mint

time4 days ago

  • Science
  • Mint

Anonymous buyer spends ₹263 crore to own 150-million-year-old dinosaur fossil; ‘Bezos or Musk?' wonders social media

A very rare dinosaur fossil has been sold for $30.5 million ( ₹ 263 crore) at an auction in New York. It was a Ceratosaurus, a meat-eating dinosaur with a horn on its nose, sharp teeth and bony armour on its back and tail. The buyer wants to loan it to an institution, which is suitable for a specimen of this 'rarity and importance', Sotheby's auction house said. Professor Steve Brusatte has called such high prices shocking. The dinosaur expert from the University of Edinburgh feels museums cannot afford them. '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 told CNN. He fears the fossil may end up hidden in a rich person's home and never be seen by the public again. '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 added. A Mars meteorite, the biggest found on Earth, was sold for $5.3 million in the same auction. In July 2024, a Stegosaurus fossil named Apex was sold by Sotheby's for $44.6 million ( ₹ 380 crore). Social media wondered who the buyer was. 'Bezos or Musk?' asked one YouTube user. Another called it 'bare bones capitalism'. 'Are you telling me Sotheby's got 4 million in fees?' asked one user as the official price differed from what was seen in the auction video. This fossil is special because it's the only young Ceratosaurus among the four known in the world. It is over 150 million years old. It belongs to Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian Stage, estimated to have existed 154-149 million years ago. The fossil is 6 feet tall and over 10 feet long, with 139 bones. Its skull is almost complete with 57 bones. It is an 'exceptional, exhibition-ready mounted skeleton', according to Sotheby's. The skull has 43 teeth, along with 5 extra loose teeth. Its sharp teeth and horned nose are clearly visible. The bones are well-preserved, dark in colour and show fine details. Sotheby's says it is one of the best and most complete fossils of its kind. It was expected to sell for $4 to $6 million. However, it got much more after six bidders competed, CNN reported. It was shown at a museum in Utah from 2000 to 2024. Surprisingly, scientists have never formally studied this fossil in a research paper. Experts believe the fossil belonged to a young dinosaur due to the delicate bone structure. The skeleton has been carefully mounted in a dramatic pose with jaws open. It includes ownership documents, x-rays, 3D scans and legal certification. According to Sotheby's, the dinosaur skeleton is offered with full ownership rights.

Anonymous buyer spends  ₹263 crore to own 150-million-year-old dinosaur fossil; ‘Bezos or Musk?' wonders social media
Anonymous buyer spends  ₹263 crore to own 150-million-year-old dinosaur fossil; ‘Bezos or Musk?' wonders social media

Mint

time4 days ago

  • Science
  • Mint

Anonymous buyer spends ₹263 crore to own 150-million-year-old dinosaur fossil; ‘Bezos or Musk?' wonders social media

A very rare dinosaur fossil has been sold for $30.5 million ( ₹ 263 crore) at an auction in New York. It was a Ceratosaurus, a meat-eating dinosaur with a horn on its nose, sharp teeth and bony armour on its back and tail. The buyer wants to loan it to an institution, which is suitable for a specimen of this 'rarity and importance', Sotheby's auction house said. Professor Steve Brusatte has called such high prices shocking. The dinosaur expert from the University of Edinburgh feels museums cannot afford them. '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 told CNN. He fears the fossil may end up hidden in a rich person's home and never be seen by the public again. '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 added. A Mars meteorite, the biggest found on Earth, was sold for $5.3 million in the same auction. In July 2024, a Stegosaurus fossil named Apex was sold by Sotheby's for $44.6 million ( ₹ 380 crore). Social media wondered who the buyer was. 'Bezos or Musk?' asked one YouTube user. Another called it 'bare bones capitalism'. 'Are you telling me Sotheby's got 4 million in fees?' asked one user as the official price differed from what was seen in the auction video. This fossil is special because it's the only young Ceratosaurus among the four known in the world. It is over 150 million years old. It belongs to Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian Stage, estimated to have existed 154-149 million years ago. The fossil is 6 feet tall and over 10 feet long, with 139 bones. Its skull is almost complete with 57 bones. It is an 'exceptional, exhibition-ready mounted skeleton', according to Sotheby's. The skull has 43 teeth, along with 5 extra loose teeth. Its sharp teeth and horned nose are clearly visible. The bones are well-preserved, dark in colour and show fine details. Sotheby's says it is one of the best and most complete fossils of its kind. It was expected to sell for $4 to $6 million. However, it got much more after six bidders competed, CNN reported. It was shown at a museum in Utah from 2000 to 2024. Surprisingly, scientists have never formally studied this fossil in a research paper. Experts believe the fossil belonged to a young dinosaur due to the delicate bone structure. The skeleton has been carefully mounted in a dramatic pose with jaws open. It includes ownership documents, x-rays, 3D scans and legal certification. According to Sotheby's, the dinosaur skeleton is offered with full ownership rights. Originally found in 1996, it was held by a museum and later by Fossilogic LLC, who finished and displayed it in 2024–25.

Rare juvenile dinosaur 'Ceratosaurus' fossil sells for $30.5 million at Sotheby's auction
Rare juvenile dinosaur 'Ceratosaurus' fossil sells for $30.5 million at Sotheby's auction

Economic Times

time4 days ago

  • Science
  • Economic Times

Rare juvenile dinosaur 'Ceratosaurus' fossil sells for $30.5 million at Sotheby's auction

Reuters Juvenile Ceratosaurus fossil sells for $30.5M 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.'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 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 Sotheby's says the unnamed buyer intends to loan the fossil to an institution, paleontologists remain cautious. '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.'

Rare juvenile dinosaur 'Ceratosaurus' fossil sells for $30.5 million at Sotheby's auction
Rare juvenile dinosaur 'Ceratosaurus' fossil sells for $30.5 million at Sotheby's auction

Time of India

time4 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.'

Largest Martian meteorite sells for a whopping $5.3M at auction: ‘Geological time capsule from another world'
Largest Martian meteorite sells for a whopping $5.3M at auction: ‘Geological time capsule from another world'

New York Post

time7 days ago

  • Science
  • New York Post

Largest Martian meteorite sells for a whopping $5.3M at auction: ‘Geological time capsule from another world'

This record-breaking rock had losing bidders seeing red. At one of Sotheby's Geek Week events, hosted at NYC's own American Museum of Natural History, this Martian meteorite smashed through bidding expectations, which were between $2M to $4M. Advertisement This meteorite, affectionately dubbed NWA 16788, isn't just any space rock, though. At a stunning $5.3 million, not only did it fetch the highest price of any meteorite ever, it's also the largest, most scientifically significant piece of Mars that we Earthlings have access to. At 54 pounds, the meteorite is approximately the size of two basketballs. 'NWA 16788 is a geological time capsule from another world,' Sotheby's representatives wrote. 'With fewer than 400 Martian meteorites ever recorded, and most no larger than a pebble, this specimen offers the biggest tangible connection to a planet that has captivated humanity for centuries.' Advertisement The space rock was discovered in November 2023 by a meteorite hunter — yes, that's a real job — in the middle of the Nigerian Sahara desert. The supermassive shooting star is made up of Martian magma and is among the 5.4% of Martian meteorites to boast the particularly rare geological classification, olivine-microgabbroic. AP Unsurprisingly, the meteorite from the Red planet is, in fact, red. According to Sotheby's analysts, who have examined it up close and personal, it's a deep, rusty shade with a glassy crust. 'NWA 16788 shows minimal terrestrial weathering, indicating that its physical and chemical makeup have not been significantly altered since its arrival in the Sahara Desert,' Sotheby's explained in the release. 'In other words, NWA 16788 is likely a relative newcomer here on Earth, having fallen from outer space rather recently.' Advertisement According to Sotheby's, researchers believe this rock was launched off the red planet when another forceful asteroid hit Mars' surface. AFP via Getty Images Before it was sold, the meteorite was publicly exhibited at the Italian Space Agency in Rome and in a private gallery in Tuscany. Though the buyer, who was not publicly identified, certainly paid a pretty penny for the rights to the rock, some scientists have reservations about the whole affair — particularly because of the possibilities for new research the meteorite presents. Advertisement 'It would be a shame if it disappeared into the vault of an oligarch. It belongs in a museum, where it can be studied, and where it can be enjoyed by children and families and the public at large,' Steve Brusatte, a professor of paleontology and evolution at the University of Edinburgh, told CNN. A mere chunk of mineral it may be, but this meteorite is far from lonely in its exorbitant price. In 2020, a 4½-pound meteorite crashed through an Indonesian man's roof. According to experts, the rare rock was over 4.5 billion years old and was worth almost $2M. In the end, this meteorite was also purchased by a private meteorite collector. However, meteorites typically land in oceans, deserts, forests and other uninhabited areas, much like NWA 16788.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store