# Sotheby's T. rex Auction Raises Science Concerns
Sotheby's auction house opened live bidding on July 14 for a collection of fossils, with a rare 67-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton serving as the centerpiece. The specimen, dubbed Gus, is described as one of the most significant T. rex skeletons available for sale and represents the marquee lot in what the auction house has promoted as a historic event.
The sale has sparked concerns among observers that commercial auction activity and wealthy buyers are beginning to upend the scientific study of fossils. The prominence given to the T. rex specimen and the scale of the auction reflect broader tensions between private fossil sales and the interests of the scientific community, which traditionally relies on museum collections and institutional ownership for research access.
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