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Re: T rex feathers



National Geographic funds scientific research, and like many other funding organizations likes to toot their own horns when they have a discovery. (I get press releases from NASA and the National Science Foundation announcing discoveries they funded, so this isn't just private organizations.)

Geographic has been announcing archaeological discoveries in Central America recently, working through the normal science press channels. After being badly burned with a faked dino-bird fossil called Archaeoraptor ("The Piltdown Bird" in a New Scientist headline), Geographic is being very careful that the science is vetted by reputable referees before being announced. A feathered T. rex would be a major story, but they're going to make darn sure they've got real feathers before they put out a press release.

- Jeff Hecht

At 11:12 AM -0500 5/29/04, Dora Smith wrote:
Yup, I missed the bio section on Paul Sereno's website! [clipped]

He is a contract whatever with National Geographic, I'm not clear what sort
of contract, but he is very involved with their articles on paleontological
exploration, and I got the idea that some of his work is directly for them.
This supports the notion that if he had found feathers on a T rex, he might
sell them the information, or consider them as owning it - and not tell
anyone for a year until this piece of news can be sold in a popular magazine
for profit!   The report that was posted to this list was that he was going
to publish the discovery a year from now in National Geographic.   Since he
is closely linked with National Geographic and he does sell them scientific
knowledge for profit, the story looks more likely to be genuine.   If this
turned out to be the case, I would be disgusted enough not to exactly be
waiting with baited breath for the information, which more than likley is a
vague feather imprint in a rock.

[clipped]
--
Jeff Hecht, science & technology writer
jeff@jeffhecht.com; http://www.jeffhecht.com
Boston Correspondent: New Scientist magazine
Contributing Editor: Laser Focus World
525 Auburn St., Auburndale, MA 02466 USA
v. 617-965-3834; fax 617-332-4760