A multimillion-pound scientific study of a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, named Trinity, will be conducted by a team of palaeontologists in Portsmouth. The University of Portsmouth researchers, led by anatomist Dr. Nizar Ibrahim, will be examining the bones of Trinity, which is composed of remains from three different individuals discovered in the US between 2008 and 2013. Trinity was acquired by the Phoebus Foundation for 5.55 million Swiss francs and is now the subject of an exciting research project.
The team, consisting of PhD students Megan Jacobs and Stella Angelika Ludwig, undergraduate Josephine Pallister, and masters student Hamzah Imran, will be studying various aspects of Trinity’s bones, including their size, appearance, age, and any signs of ancient injuries or diseases. Dr. Ibrahim expressed his enthusiasm for working on this iconic dinosaur and highlighted the unique opportunity it presents for his students to apply their knowledge of dinosaur anatomy.
Trinity’s skeleton, comprising 293 original bones, is an impressive 12 meters long and 4 meters tall at the shoulder. This rare specimen will be on display at the Aathal Dinosaur Museum in Zürich, Switzerland, until January 19, 2025, after which it is expected to tour international museums before finding its permanent home in the Boerentoren in Antwerp.
Ms. Jacobs, one of the PhD students, described the experience of working on Trinity as a dream come true for any palaeontologist, given the dinosaur’s iconic status. The team is excited to continue their research and unveil more insights into the fascinating world of dinosaurs through their study of Trinity’s remains.
