Don’t tell Alan Detrich that e-commerce is the future—his attempt to
sell a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton in a unique online auction has failed
abysmally. Nicknamed “Z Rex”, the fossil is the second most complete T.
rex discovered and the largest male specimen. Detrich, a fossil dealer
based in Kansas, failed to find buyers willing to stump up the $5 million
asking price through conventional channels. So he allowed the fossil to be put
up for auction on the eBay website for a week. More than 600 people visited the
auction site, but all four bids received before the 4 July deadline turned out
to be hoaxes.
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
Autism may have two distinct subtypes that vary by brain activity
2
The secrets to keeping your brain sharp in old age
3
A quantum state that lasts forever may finally be within our grasp
4
Fully autonomous drones have killed human soldiers for the first time
5
Sperm have been made magnetic to allow IVF inside the body
6
Walking shark found in Papua New Guinea is new to science
7
Arctic Ocean reaches tipping point that could be dire for marine life
8
Why autism pioneer Uta Frith wants to dismantle the spectrum
9
Are useful and error-free quantum computers only two years away?
10
Why the right kind of stress is crucial for your health and happiness
