Timeless Forms: The Fossil Realm Journal

Meteorites blur the boundary between Earth and space — reminders that our world is not apart from the cosmos, but continuous with it. Each one is a fragment of celestial history, shaped by unimaginable forces and carried across millions of kilometers before finding rest on our planet.

A lunar stone speaks of exile and return; a pallasite glows with gemstones born of collision; an oriented chondrite bears the memory of motion through fire; and an ancient Campo iron, sculpted by cosmic winds, endures as metal turned art.

Together they stretch both time and space, placing our brief lifetimes in perspective. 

When Christie’s sold Stan the T. rex for $31.8 million in 2020, it didn’t just break a record—it redrew the boundaries of an entire market. The sale triggered what I call The Stan Effect: a self-reinforcing loop of headlines, new entrants, and rising valuations that transformed fossils into cultural capital. In the years since, dinosaurs have appeared in blue-chip auctions and art fairs, commanding prices once reserved for masterpieces. Now, with Phillips offering Cera the juvenile Triceratops in 2025, we’re seeing that cycle mature into a new phase. Fossils are no longer just scientific specimens—they’ve become emblems of art, investment, and cultural identity.

Fossil collecting has evolved from a niche passion into a global market where science, art, and investment intersect. Today’s collectors range from museum curators to design connoisseurs, lifelong enthusiasts, and investors seeking tangible rarity. Each brings a different motive — preservation, beauty, scholarship, or value — yet all are bound by a shared fascination with deep time. Drawing on decades of experience, Fossil Realm identifies five collector personas that define this remarkable ecosystem. Together, they reveal how fossils have become cultural treasures as well as scientific legacies.

Willard - possibly the largest Triceratops prorsus skeleton ever found - spans 28 feet long and 11.8 feet high. Credit: Diego Mattarelli

Have you ever wondered how a dinosaur skeleton ends up in a museum or public exhibition? Who discovers and digs up the bones? How are the bones stabilized and prepared? And what process is used to restore the missing parts and, eventually, assemble the finished specimen? Read on to find out more about Willard —an astounding fossilized Triceratops prorsus skeleton recently unearthed in the badlands of North Dakota -possibly the world’s largest example of the species ever found!

Dr. Lukáš Laib in the Fezouata lagerstätte near Zagora, Morocco. Credit: Martina Nohejlová.

Czech paleontologist Dr. Lukáš Laibl shares wide ranging tips for anyone interested in the study of fossils. His dedicated research about trilobite development and evolution (and trilobite larvae in particular) provides a glimpse into the excitement of discovering unexpected facts about the prehistoric past. Dr. Laibl’s road to a career in paleontology was heavily influenced by natural history books and he was happy to recommend several books and resources for fellow enthusiasts and aspiring paleontologists.   

"Mummified" Nodosaur (new armoured dinosaur). Image courtesy of the Royal Tyrrell Museum, Drumheller, AB. 

The Royal Tyrrell Museum's exciting new exhibit, Grounds for Discovery, showcases many marvellous fossil specimens that were discovered accidentally through industrial activity. The exhibit is a testament to Alberta’s collaborative relationships between palaeontologists and major corporations, like the energy giant Suncor. We had the pleasure of discussing the unique premise behind the exhibit (and the mummified Nodosaur) with Dr. Don Brinkman, the Royal Tyrrell Museum's Director of Preservation and Research.

In our first instalment of "Profiles in Paleontology" we share a lively and informative discussion with geology professor and paleontologist Jacqueline M. Richard. Several topics were covered, including her pathway to a career in paleontology, teaching experiences at Delgado Community College, fieldwork in Nevada and North Dakota and the challenges of excavating sauropod bones. She also spoke about her fascinating work with microfossils aimed at understanding the extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs, 66 million years ago. 

Dr. Chris McKay in Antarctica. Source: NASA

How life originated is one of the deepest mysteries of science - this profound question has perplexed humankind for thousands of years. Now, in the twenty-first century, astrobiologists and other scientists have the tools to investigate it; yet, it remains extremely challenging to answer. 

The shocking discovery of a Cretaceous toothed bird preserved in Burmese amber has made headlines around the world. The 99-million year old hatchling is the best-preserved specimen of its kind: features such as eyelids, ear openings and even feather pigmentation remain. The specimen expands our understanding of early feathers and sheds light on the anatomy, development and lifestyle of a major group of Mesozoic birds, the Enantiornithes, which lived alongside the dinosaurs.