The Billion Dollar T Rex: How Auctions Are Hijacking Science The recent announcement of Sotheby's auction of a rare Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, dubbed Gus, has reignited debates over the ethics of collecting fossils as luxury assets.
Paleontologists warn that this trend is having a disastrous impact on scientific research. Private collectors outbidding museums for fossils is not new, but it's becoming increasingly disturbing.
Auction houses have been accused of creating hype around fossil sales, driving up prices and fueling demand for these rare specimens.