Why are rich people buying dinosaurs? - What in the World podcast, BBC World Service

Dinosaur bones have become one of the world’s most expensive collector’s items, with some selling for tens of millions of dollars at auction. A Tyrannosaurus rex fossil recently sold for $50 million, making it the most expensive dinosaur ever auctioned. Some celebrities, including Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe, have their own private collections.

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So why are the ultra wealthy spending so much money on dinosaur bones, and what does it mean for science?

We speak to BBC Climate and Science journalist Esme Stallard about why they have become so valuable, who is buying them, and why many scientists are concerned about private ownership. We also hear from young dinosaur enthusiasts and Professor Steve Brusatte, a palaeontologist at the University of Edinburgh and consultant on the Jurassic Park films, about why these ancient fossils matter and the growing debate over who should really own them.

00:00 Introduction
01:05 Why are dinosaur fossils worth so much?
02:16 Scientists vs collectors: who should own fossils?
04:06 The debate over private ownership
04:53 We hear from paleontologists
07:21 The case for private fossil hunters
07:53 Who owns a dinosaur when it's found?
08:40 The fossil black market
09:46 Are museum dinosaur skeletons actually real?

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Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producer: Adam Chowdhury
Video Producer: Baldeep Chahal
Editor: Emily Horler

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