Greetings from Conor! The trend of privatizing what belongs to the public realm is accelerating, reminiscent of a journey from the Mesozoic to the present. After all, “data is the new oil.”
SAM ALTMAN: “WE SEE A FUTURE WHERE INTELLIGENCE IS A UTILITY, LIKE ELECTRICITY OR WATER, AND PEOPLE BUY IT FROM US ON A METER.” pic.twitter.com/AXnZ9zh0Ro
— Vivek Sen (@Vivek4real_) May 25, 2026
Kristi Curry Rogers, DeWitt Wallace Professor of Biology and Geology, Macalester College. Originally published at The Conversation.
On July 14, 2026, “Gus,” one of the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex specimens, was auctioned off for an astounding US$50.1 million to an undisclosed buyer. This Sotheby’s auction marked a new milestone for the most valuable fossil ever sold. This sale signifies the increasing trend of transforming ancient biological history into luxury collectibles, showing how even the remnants of Earth’s past are now up for the highest bid.
For paleontologists like myself, however, a fossil like “Gus” is more than just a trophy or artwork. It represents a priceless scientific resource. Fossils serve as records of evolution, extinction, growth, disease, injury, and ancient ecosystems. They provide a finite and irreplaceable account of the history of life on Earth.
Science relies on the ability to independently verify claims and foster healthy debates. Researchers must revisit specimens, validate previous conclusions, and pose new inquiries.
However, once a scientifically valuable fossil becomes part of a private collection, access for researchers is no longer guaranteed. Typically, collectors keep their fossils locked away in their homes. Even when fossils are loaned to museums, the owners have the discretion to retract access at any moment. This is particularly concerning for Tyrannosaurus rex; a study conducted in 2025 revealed that among 61 T. rex fossils, 71 were in private possession.
This is why the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, of which I am a longtime member and president-elect, has consistently advocated that scientifically significant vertebrate fossils belong in the public trust. These specimens should be curated in museums and universities, ensuring their preservation, accessibility for research, and availability for public education.
Finding a Fossil
Proponents of commercial fossil sales often argue that without privately selling such specimens, fossils like “Gus” would remain entombed or erode away. While they are correct that discovery is crucial, it is merely the beginning. Many exceptional fossils have been uncovered by ranchers, hikers, amateurs, and professional excavators. Paleontology is open to anyone observant enough to engage with nature—a degree is not a prerequisite for making significant discoveries.
Yet, a fossil’s scientific significance hinges on the meticulous documentation of its excavation site, the surrounding rocks, and any flora or fauna found with it. This context allows scientists to reconstruct ancient ecosystems, comprehend how an animal lived and perished, and interpret how its remains became fossilized. When important details are lost or overlooked, much of the fossil’s scientific value diminishes.
Furthermore, the discovery, excavation, and publication of a fossil only scratch the surface of its full scientific potential. Often, its greatest value emerges decades later, as researchers pose new questions and utilize innovative technologies that previous generations did not foresee. A specimen that appears thoroughly studied today could yield unexpected insights tomorrow, but only if it remains accessible for ongoing research.
Delayed Discoveries
Consider the well-known dinosaurs such as T. rex, Triceratops, Diplodocus, and Stegosaurus, discovered over a century ago. Early paleontologists could describe their external features but lacked the means to examine the internal structures. Because these specimens were preserved in museum collections, later generations were able to revisit them using technologies that did not exist at the time of their discovery.
Nondestructive micro-CT scan of the fibula of a neonatal specimen of Rapetosaurus, a long-necked titanosaur. Kristina Curry Rogers
Paleontologist Larry Witmer and his team at Ohio University have been utilizing CT imaging for two decades to reconstruct the internal anatomy of historic dinosaur fossils without causing damage. This technology, which allows X-rays to pass through specimens, has revealed for the first time the brain cavities, inner ear structures, air cavities, nerve pathways, and blood vessels. These findings have illuminated how these prehistoric creatures balanced, heard, smelled, and perceived their environment.
Geochemists such as Henry Fricke and Thomas Cullen have investigated isotopic signatures found in fossilized teeth and eggshells to deduce dinosaur diets, migration patterns, and body temperatures, revealing insights into how these ancient animals lived, what they consumed, and how they navigated their landscapes.
Recently, molecular paleontologist Jasmina Wiemann and her collaborators have identified chemical traces in fossilized bone, eggshell, and skin, revealing aspects of dinosaur biology that were previously unimaginable. Until now, paleontologists lacked the means to uncover details about metabolic rates, reproductive behaviors, and the pigmentation of skin, feathers, and eggs.
A thin section of a Diplodocus femur reveals the microscopic architecture of the bone, preserving a record of the animal’s growth and life history. Kristina Curry Rogers
In my research, I employ microscopes to uncover the concealed stories hidden within dinosaur bones and teeth. Analyzing thin sections of fossilized bones indicates that dinosaurs grew more like mammals and birds than the oversized reptiles they were often mistaken for. Microscopic alterations to bones reveal traces of ancient scavenging, while tiny indicators deep within baby dinosaur bones pinpoint the exact moment of hatching.
None of these significant findings would have been possible if the original fossils had been relegated to inaccessible private collections.
Shared Natural Heritage, on the Auction Block
Fossils are not static items whose scientific value is diminished once described. Instead, their worth increases as scientific knowledge advances, but this is contingent upon future researchers retaining access to the originals.
Of course, some dinosaur fossils are sometimes rescued from obscurity through purchase, followed by immediate deposits or donations to natural history museums. Some of the most significant dinosaur fossils we have today are made available due to individuals, corporations, or organizations recognizing their value and integrity, ensuring scientists can continue investigating them while allowing future generations to discover and learn from these specimens.
Purchasing a fossil for the purpose of placing it permanently in the public domain fundamentally differs from acquiring it as a private collectible: the former increases access, while the latter leaves it precarious.
As fossil prices soar into the millions, museums increasingly find it difficult to compete. The most significant fossils are no longer reliably being transferred to public collections, but are instead turning into luxury investments whose market value outweighs their scientific significance.
Dinosaurs are part of our shared natural heritage. They evoke a sense of wonder as they connect us all to a world immensely older than our own. For me, the pressing question raised by auctions like the one on July 14 regarding “Gus” is not about who can afford to claim ownership of these ancient artifacts, but rather whether future generations will have the opportunity to study and learn from them.
