Upper Cretaceous–Danian rocks of North America, a window into the end-Cretaceous world
Sotheby’s has sold a 67‑million‑year‑old Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton nicknamed “Gus” for $50.1 million, the highest price ever paid for a dinosaur at auction. The specimen, about 61–63% complete, was excavated in South Dakota from 2021–23; scientists are warning that private ownership will restrict research access.
A fossil from 324 million years ago suggests insects had more legs than today and may reshape understanding of early arthropods during the hexapod gap.
Scientists have used tooth enamel chemistry to estimate Tyrannosaurus rex’s body temperature at about 36°C, placing it among warm‑blooded animals. The research, based on clumped isotope thermometry, is published in Science Advances and relies on enamel from three teeth from Hell Creek Formation fossils.
A well-preserved dinosaur-era feather has been found in fossilised dinosaur dung, shedding light on why birds survived the mass extinction. The find, described in Current Biology, shows a feather with bones and fish scales, offering new clues about the neonith birds’ resilience.