A Tyrannosaurus rex called Stan - the most expensive fossil to be sold at auction - will go on display at the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi when its doors open in 2025.
The 67-million-year-old, 11.7-metre specimen, thought to be the world's most duplicated T. rex fossil, fetched $31.8million at a Christie’s auction in 2020.
The skeleton was discovered in South Dakota in 1987 by amateur palaeontologist Stan Sacrison, after whom the fossil was named, who saw the dinosaur's pelvis on the side of a cliff when he was inspecting plants.
It is said more people have seen Stan, or casts of him, than any other T. rex. Around 60 copies of him are said to exist.
The real thing was sold at auction in 2020, but the buyer remained a mystery at the time.
He was tracked by National Geographic, having been exported from New York to the UAE in May last year. The reason was unclear until the museum's opening was announced this week.
“The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi will become an important part of the Saadiyat Cultural District,” said Dr Mark Beech, archaeology unit head at the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi.
“It will take its place among the top natural history museums in the world, committed to public education and developing and sharing scientific research.
“In the museum, local natural examples of flora and fauna and geological history will be part of the journey. One of the highlights of the natural history museum Abu Dhabi is Stan, the Tyrannosaurus rex. This is a beautiful dinosaur, 11.7 metres long, 67 million years old.
“Stan has a 70 per cent complete skeleton and one of the best-preserved T-rex skulls ever found," he said.
The dinosaur once featured as the centrepiece for the opening of a T. rex world exhibition and toured Japan before finding a home in the Black Hills Institute's Hall of Dinosaurs in the US for more than two decades before the sale.
Scientists have learned a lot about the species by studying Stan’s skeleton, particularly the movement of the skull bones.
His skull was perfectly preserved, and his bones were in pristine condition when they were found.
But his skeleton bears evidence of multiple attacks and illnesses he suffered throughout his life.
He has puncture wounds on the back of his skull, which suggests he was bitten by a fellow T. rex. His skeleton features several additional punctures, in signs of other scrapes.
The Black Hills Institute, which found and exhibited him until a couple of years ago, said he probably lived with other family members.
The cause of his death is not known but could have been due to old age, starvation, limited movement due to his injuries, or even parasitic infection.
Go on a journey through time
The coming museum will also feature a fragment of the Murchison meteorite, which crash-landed in Australia in 1969. The specimen was determined to be 7 billion years old, far older than the 4.54 billion-year-old Earth and solar system. It contains the oldest particulate matter ever found on Earth.
Visitors to the museum will travel on a 13.8 billion year journey through time and space.
It will feature local natural examples of flora and fauna and geological history, looking at natural history through an Arabian lens for the first time.
The design of the building is inspired by natural rock formations and will feature greenery flowing down the sides, according to renderings for the project.
What is a natural history museum?
They aim to help improve our understanding of the natural world by displaying specimens related to life and earth science. Typical collections include botany, entomology, mineralogy, palaeontology and zoology.
The world’s first natural history museum was established in Zurich in the 16th century. But it is said the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, UK, was the first to open for the general public in 1683.
The Natural History Museum in London is one of the world’s most famous. It features around 80 million items, including specimens collected by Charles Darwin, who developed a theory of evolution based on natural selection.
It is particularly famous for its dinosaur skeletons. The museum's central hall used to feature a cast of a large diplodocus. In 2017, it was replaced with a skeleton of a blue whale, which hangs from the ceiling.
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
Janet Yellen's Firsts
- In 2014, she became the first woman to lead the US Federal Reserve
- In 1999, she became the first female chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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Results:
6.30pm: Handicap (Turf) | US$175,000 2,410m | Winner: Bin Battuta, Christophe Soumillon (jockey), Saeed bin Suroor (trainer)
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (Dirt) | $100,000 | 1,400m | Winner: Al Hayette, Fabrice Veron, Ismail Mohammed
7.40pm: Handicap (T) | $145,000 | 1,000m | Winner: Faatinah, Jim Crowley, David Hayes
8.15pm: Dubawi Stakes Group 3 (D) | $200,000 | 1,200m | Winner: Raven’s Corner, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
8.50pm: Singspiel Stakes Group 3 (T) | $200,000 | 1,800m | Winner: Dream Castle, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor
9.25pm: Handicap (T) | $175,000 | 1,400m | Winner: Another Batt, Connor Beasley, George Scott
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go
The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Santiago, via Sao Paolo cost from Dh5,295 with Emirates.
The trip
A five-day trip (not including two days of flight travel) was split between Santiago and in Puerto Varas, with more time spent in the later where excursions were organised by TurisTour.
When to go
The summer months, from December to February are best though there is beauty in each season
Family reunited
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was born and raised in Tehran and studied English literature before working as a translator in the relief effort for the Japanese International Co-operation Agency in 2003.
She moved to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies before moving to the World Health Organisation as a communications officer.
She came to the UK in 2007 after securing a scholarship at London Metropolitan University to study a master's in communication management and met her future husband through mutual friends a month later.
The couple were married in August 2009 in Winchester and their daughter was born in June 2014.
She was held in her native country a year later.
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Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
World Cricket League Division 2
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
CAF Champions League semi-finals first-leg fixtures
Tuesday:
Primeiro Agosto (ANG) v Esperance (TUN) (8pm UAE)
Al Ahly (EGY) v Entente Setif (ALG) (11PM)
Second legs:
October 23
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
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Porsche Macan T: The Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 265hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,800-4,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Speed: 0-100kph in 6.2sec
Top speed: 232kph
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
On sale: May or June
Price: From Dh259,900
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
Company Profile
Founder: Omar Onsi
Launched: 2018
Employees: 35
Financing stage: Seed round ($12 million)
Investors: B&Y, Phoenician Funds, M1 Group, Shorooq Partners
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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From Conquest to Deportation
Jeronim Perovic, Hurst
MATCH INFO
Norwich City 0 Southampton 3 (Ings 49', Armstrong 54', Redmond 79')
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
FIXTURES
Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)
