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Private Collectors Outpace Museums in T. rex Discoveries

4/15/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Commercial companies are outpacing museums in discovering T. rex fossils, uncovering twice as many and stifling scientific research. Wealthy collectors are snapping up rare specimens, including juvenile fossils, which clouds our understanding of T. rex biology. Researcher Thomas Carr calls for greater awareness of the private market's influence on fossil access and urges exploration of other ancient species.

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Story summary

Commercial companies are outpacing museums in discovering T. rex fossils, uncovering twice as many and stifling scientific research. Wealthy collectors are snapping up rare specimens, including juvenile fossils, which clouds our understanding of T. rex biology. Researcher Thomas Carr calls for greater awareness of the private market's influence on fossil access and urges exploration of other ancient species.