The largest Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton ever discovered, nicknamed Scotty, died from injuries sustained in a battle with another dinosaur approximately 66 million years ago. Analysis of preserved fossilized tissue, a rare occurrence in paleontology, revealed the cause of death.
Found in Saskatchewan, Canada, in 1991, Scotty measured about 43 feet long and is estimated to have weighed around 19,500 pounds. The fossil's unique attribute of having preserved tissue allowed researchers to utilize neutron imaging, a technique supported by the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory. This non-invasive method enabled the creation of detailed 3D images of Scotty's ribs and associated tissues, allowing for microscopic examination.
"It’s like winning the lottery," said Mauricio Barbi, a professor of physics at the University of Regina. "Scotty’s rib contains a vast network of mineralized blood vessels that has never before been observed in a fossil."
The paleontological investigation determined that Scotty suffered a cracked rib during a confrontation with another dinosaur. While tiny blood vessels formed around the wound in an attempt to facilitate healing, the injury proved fatal, and the apex predator perished shortly after in a Canadian salt marsh.
Researchers involved in the project hope that techniques like neutron imaging will allow for new discoveries about ancient life by examining more fossils that may hold hidden secrets. Jerit Mitchell, a doctoral candidate in physics at the University of Regina, stated that such methods allow for "new discoveries about ancient life like never before."