Sale of Dueling Dinosaurs made Public

[Troodon]

The sale of the Dueling Dinosaurs has been made public.  The North Carolina Museum of Natural History is the proud new owner.

 

https://www.wral.com/nc-museum-of-natural-sciences-unveils-worlds-first-complete-t-rex/19388011/

 

Edit:  added link to NCNHM announcement 

https://duelingdinosaurs.org/

 

Edit:

National Geo:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/11/dueling-dinosaurs-fossil-finally-set-to-reveal-secrets/

[thelivingdead531]

I’m excited to see them on display when they unveil in 2022. 

[ziggycardon]

Some positive news for 2020, even though we lost Stan, I am happy that scientist & the public finally have access to this specimen  
 

[FossilDAWG]

It's great news  that the dueling dinos will be going to a museum where they can contribute to science as well as stimulate the public's interest in paleontology (well, vertebrate paleontology at least).

 

The news article has a couple of weird comments.  What the heck are "life-sized dinosaurs"?

 

As far as I am aware, we don't know who bought Stan, so we don't know if we have "lost" him.  Maybe he will show up in a museum somewhere?  Or maybe I missed some news about the sale?

 

Don

[Troodon]

14 minutes ago, FossilDAWG said:

The news article has a couple of weird comments.  What the heck are "life-sized dinosaurs"?

 

As far as I am aware, we don't know who bought Stan, so we don't know if we have "lost" him.  Maybe he will show up in a museum somewhere?  Or maybe I missed some news about the sale?

 

Don

The purchaser of Stan is still a mystery.   Hard to keep that quiet for long.  Hard to hide it.

 

"Life size dinosaur" guess they are not planning to shrink them  

 

Added a couple of newer links

[dinosaur man]

I was just about to share it until I saw this.  Finally the specimen is in museum hands it can be researched and might clear up once and for all the Nano debate!

[Pemphix]

Finally good news for this year ! 

Didn't got this article until now, thanks for sharing it !

[jpc]

Wow!  Interesting that the story calls it a Tyrannosaurus rex.  So, the folks in NC who will be studying it already know it is not a Nanotyrannus....  But wait! Paleontologists have been saying for ten years... "this specimen will settle the debate", and now these folks are settling it before it is settled.  Eye-roll emoji.  The same goes for the "Triceratops"

 

I look forward to seeing it... my in-laws live in NC, so there will be trips thataway.  

[FossilDAWG]

Maybe once Covid loosens it's grip on us all, we can organize a group trip to see the exhibit.  We have quite a few members who live within driving distance, and we could time it to include visitors from afar (such as Wyoming).

 

Don

[GemCityHippie]

Well then. My significant other lives in SC; so looks like I have a great new reason to plan out a roadtrip for us to take in 2022 once they're on display.

[Troodon]

What will settle the debate is when a juvenile Trex is discovered and it turns out to look like its parents.  This Museum has already drawn its conclusion and the publicity tells you where its landed.  Unfortunately its not about science but $$$$.

 

The Ceratopsian is very cool completely lacking horns. Looks like a Pachyrhinosaurus but definitely different.   One Ceratopsian paleontologist that looked at it concluded it was a very old Trike.    The museum may be more open minded on this one especially if its a new species 

[Praefectus]

2 hours ago, Troodon said:

What will settle the debate is when a juvenile Trex is discovered and it turns out to look like its parents.  This Museum has already drawn its conclusion and the publicity tells you where its landed.  Unfortunately its not about science but $$$$.

Aw, that's a shame. I saw some of the museum's promo material and the do seem to be pushing that it is the "first 100% complete Tyrannosaurus rex  specimen." 

[jpc]

29 minutes ago, Praefectus said:

Aw, that's a shame. I saw some of the museum's promo material and the do seem to be pushing that it is the "first 100% complete Tyrannosaurus rex  specimen." 

Here is their speech.  They have made up their mind.  This is a snarge shame.  An excellent opportunity to show how science works and they are calling it a t rex from the gitgo.  

 

Not that they invited me, but this is what I would have used as a selling point:

 

"This is an amazing and incredible specimen.  It will help us answer one of the most debated questions in dinosaur paleontology.... Is Nanotyrannus a juvie rex or not?  We will do amazing research and get back to you all in a few years... meanwhile come on down and look at this stuff... It is very cool."

 

There was not even a mention of the debate... shame.  

 

Here is the museum announcement.

 

[ThePhysicist]

4 hours ago, Troodon said:

This Museum has already drawn its conclusion and the publicity tells you where its landed.

 

2 hours ago, Praefectus said:

I saw some of the museum's promo material and the do seem to be pushing that it is the "first 100% complete Tyrannosaurus rex  specimen." 

 

1 hour ago, jpc said:

They have made up their mind. 

Yes, seems that's how it's being publicized, but on the exhibit page they also say under mysteries: "Is this an adolescent Tyrannosaurus rex or is Nanotyrannus a valid species?" While they may be touting it as a T. rex, it appears that this is a question they want to answer (though I agree, they aren't making much of an effort to highlight that question). I think they're using recent papers that refute Nano, along with apparent/public consensus among experts, as a way to take advantage of "T. rex hype," but also be in-line with the most recent findings. Maybe I'm being too optimistic. Dr. Lindsay Zanno also responded to someone on Twitter asking if the tyrannosaur was a juvie rex, "best science right now says yes, but of course we will apply new data to the question as is the scientific way! Stay tuned!"