Informeret - July 20
COVID rising in Denmark. Another month, another heat record.
**It is summerferie (summer vacation) in Denmark. So posts will be a little sporadic over the next few weeks or so until the new school year begins in August. Thanks for understanding and enjoy your summer**
🇳🇴
Our family is just back from a lovely road trip through Norway and Sweden. I snapped this picture of Verdends Ende (World’s End) in Norway and thought I would share it.
Norway is beautiful, and for me, it feels like being back home in British Columbia with its rocky coastlines and soaring mountains. If you haven’t been, I would absolutely recommend Norway as a travel destination.
🦠COVID🦠
A summer COVID wave has arrived in Denmark and elsewhere around the world, so take what precautions you can to protect yourself.
Denmark’s Statens Serum Institute notes a “very strong increase” in coronavirus activity as measured using wastewater surveillance. As you can see in the chart below, COVID activity has been surging in recent weeks.
COVID activity has been rising for four straight weeks now. Along with the increase in virus activity, hospital admissions are also rising, but the pressure on the healthcare system is described as “still at a low level.”
The SSI says the infection increase is expected, and it anticipates that numbers will continue to rise over the summer due to waning immunity protection from either vaccination or a previous infection.
The COVID wave is also reflected in a volunteer surveillance program administered by the Statens Serum Institute where workers who are sick at some of Denmark’s biggest companies voluntarily get tested. As you can see, the proportion of positive COVID tests (yellow) has definitely been increasing.
🇸🇪
The Swedish Public Health Agency has put its weekly assessment of COVID activity on hold until summer vacation is over.
Hospital admissions are still being tracked though.
COVID hospitalizations (137) are also increasing (+28), while the number of severely infected people needing intensive care (2) has also crept upward (+1).
🇫🇮
COVID activity is also on the rise in Finland. The Finnish Institute for Health reports a sharp increase in coronavirus activity, according to wastewater surveillance results.
Chief Physician Leif Lakoma notes that the number of virus-related hospital admissions has so far not seen any major increase.
"It's more difficult to say how many people are actually infected.”
While a lack of COVID testing makes it near impossible to get a clear picture of infection activity across Finland, authorities are seeing the virus spreading in senior care homes. Finland, like many other countries, will again launch a fall vaccination program to inoculate people against COVID and influenza. Finland will provide COVID booster doses to seniors in care, all seniors over 80, and those who are immunocompromised regardless of age.
🇳🇴🇸🇪🇩🇰
A large new Nordic study has provided reassuring news for expecting mothers amid the COVID pandemic. Conducted by researchers from the Center for Fertility and Health at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, in collaboration with the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, the study examined the risk of malformations in children born to mothers who had either had a COVID infection or received a COVID vaccination during the first trimester. Analyzing data from 343,066 newborns, the study found no increased risk of any of the eleven groups of malformations studied.
This extensive registry study, the largest of its kind to date, encompassed 161,284 live births in Sweden, 103,747 in Norway, and 78,035 in Denmark, covering pregnancies between March 2020 and February 2022. Of the children studied, 3% had mothers who were infected during the first trimester, while 19% had mothers who were vaccinated in the same period. Despite the rigorous analysis, the incidence of malformations was similar among all groups, with 483 per 10,000 among those with a COVID infection and 478 per 10,000 among those with vaccinated mothers. These findings were consistent across different virus variants and vaccine types. This was less than the 517 per 10,000 children born to mothers who had not been infected and the 510 per 10,000 born to unvaccinated mothers.
Senior researcher Maria Magnus from the Center for Fertility and Health at FHI emphasized the significance of these findings, noting the extensive Scandinavian collaboration required to gather a sufficiently large study population and high-quality registry data.
“These are reassuring findings that support the vaccine safety of the mRNA vaccines against COVID among pregnant women.”
The study's conclusions align with other research indicating no increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, providing critical confirmation for healthcare policies supporting vaccination during pregnancy.
The study in full can be found HERE.
🇬🇧
The United Kingdom was not properly prepared for a global pandemic like COVID, and there was a lack of leadership handicapping its response to the coronavirus epidemic. That is the conclusion of a new report by the British COVID-19 Commission.
Former judge, and commission chair, Heather Hallet said that British authorities failed the people of the United Kingdom with their COVID response.
“If the UK had been better prepared for and more resilient to the pandemic, some of the economic and human costs might have been avoided.”
The Commission also took aim at experts acting as advisors to the British Government’s pandemic response, chastising them for group thinking and failing to give ministers sufficiently varied response assessments.
🇦🇹
A new study from the Medical University of Vienna has found that even mild COVID infections can cause long-lasting changes to the immune system, which may explain why some people experience long-COVID. Published in the journal Allergy, the study looked at 106 people who had recovered from coronavirus about 10 months earlier. These participants, who got infected between May and August 2020 before vaccines were available, were compared to 98 people who never had the virus.
Previously, the MUV team found that 10 weeks after infection, people who had COVID showed significant changes in their immune systems, even if their illness was mild. Senior author Dr. Winfried Pickl noted that these patients had activated T and B cells, which are crucial parts of the immune system. However, the recent follow-up study showed that by 10 months, there was a significant drop in these important immune cells and antibodies against the virus. Additionally, the study found changes in proteins that help control inflammation and immune responses.
The study also revealed that by 10 months, nearly 18% of the recovered patients had lost specific antibodies to the virus, and over 80% lacked another type of antibody crucial for fighting coronavirus. More than 90% of the patients no longer had antibodies that could neutralize the virus, suggesting they were at risk of reinfection. These findings indicate that the immune system might not be working properly in some people long after their initial COVID infection, which could explain the lingering symptoms of long-COVID. The researchers hope this study will lead to a better understanding of long-COVID and its effects on the immune system.
🍃Environment🍃
🌎 🥵
The average global temperature has been 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels for 12 consecutive months, according to new data from the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service. June 2024 marked the hottest June on record globally and the 13th straight month to set a monthly heat record. The Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that June's temperature was 1.50°C higher than the average for the 1850-1900 pre-industrial period, and the average global temperature over the past year (July 2023 – June 2024) was 1.64°C above the pre-industrial average.
This prolonged period of elevated temperatures has significant implications for our planet. The sea surface temperature (SST) for June 2024 averaged 20.85°C, the highest on record for the month and the 15th consecutive month to set a record.
Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), emphasized that while these temporary breaches of the 1.5°C threshold are alarming, they do not mean that the long-term goal of limiting warming to 1.5°C is permanently out of reach.
“These latest figures from the Copernicus Climate Change Service unfortunately highlight that we will be exceeding the 1.5°C level on a temporary basis with increasing frequency on a monthly basis. However, it is important to stress that temporary breaches do not mean that the 1.5 °C goal is permanently lost because this refers to long-term warming over at least two decades.”
Even at the current level of warming, we are already experiencing devastating climate impacts. These include extreme heatwaves, heavy rainfall leading to floods, severe droughts, and accelerating ice melt. June 2024 saw widespread and prolonged heatwaves, especially in the northern hemisphere, impacting daily life and increasing the risk of health issues. The record-high sea surface temperatures are also a concern for marine ecosystems and can intensify tropical cyclones.
Regional climate variations were notable in June 2024. Europe saw above-average temperatures in southeast regions and Turkey, while western Europe and Iceland experienced near-or below-average temperatures. Outside Europe, eastern Canada, the western United States, and several other regions faced significantly above-average temperatures. Precipitation patterns were also erratic, with parts of Europe experiencing heavy rains and floods, while others, like the UK and southern Italy, were drier than average. These variations highlight the complex nature of climate change and underscore the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate further warming and its associated impacts.
🇩🇰
There has not been a lot of sunshine and warm temperatures so far this summer in Denmark. In fact, it is quite the opposite, with rain being almost constant since June. In the beginning of July, hail, storm force gusts, and tornadoes were added to the wonderful summer weather mix. Yes, you read that right, tornadoes. The Danish Meteorological Institute has confirmed tornadoes formed over both southern Jutland and northern Fyn on July 6.
Tornadoes are not a common occurrence in Denmark, but they have happened before. A tornado was reported on Lolland and Møn back in 2021 and in Albertslund in 2020.
The big storm that struck the country to kick the month off also produced record-breaking hail with ice pellets measuring seven centimetres in diameter. It also produced the strongest wind gusts seen in the country since July of 1996. The strongest winds were recorded in Hirtshals, where they reached 23.9 meters per second (about 87 kmh).
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For the first time since it began keeping records 150 years ago, the Danish Meteorological Institute says that May this year was a warmer month than June. According to DMI, the average temperature in June was 14.5 °C versus May's 14.6 °C.
Climatologist Mikael Scharling:
“We have seen many heat records in recent years, which can generally be attributed to a warmer global climate. However, we cannot say that climate change is the reason why the average temperature in May this year was higher than in June. It just shows that the natural variations of Danish weather can produce some wild swings all on its own.”
Scharling says the usual pattern is that May and June tend to be very similar. If May is warm ,then so is June, and if May is cold, then June tends to be too. But that was not the case this year, with May being exceptionally warm while June was colder than usual.
🇬🇷🇮🇹🇪🇸🇭🇷🇷🇸 🥵
While people in Denmark continue to wait for something that remotely resembles summer weather, the opposite story is playing out in southern and eastern Europe. In Greece, temperatures reached as high as 43 degrees in some areas. It was so hot that Greek authorities ordered workers to stop all outdoor hard physical labour between noon and 5 p.m. this week. The order applies to construction workers, shipbuilders, and even food vendors. Some municipalities also opened cooling rooms for the public. Amid the scorching heat, several wildfires have roared to life, and some Greek islands are struggling with water shortages.
In Italy, health authorities issued severe heat warnings for 12 cities, including Rome, this week as temperatures exceeded 40 degrees in some places. People in the impacted cities are advised to stay indoors in the afternoon, avoid hard physical work, and avoid ‘heavy’ foods. The zoo in Rome even launched a cooling program for its animals with cold mist and piles of ice cubes. Like Greece, Italy is also seeing increasing wildlife activity.
Temperatures also reached or exceeded 40 degrees in Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. In the Serbian capital of Belgrade, the thermometer reached 38.4 degrees on Tuesday, the hottest day on record for the country. People in Serbia are also under severe water restrictions, with water only to be used for personal hygiene and for drinking.
The alluring waters of the Dalmatian coast are a reflection of the heat wave, with the sea temperature off the coast of Dubrovnik reaching almost 30 degrees, the highest ever recorded.
The heat wave arrived in Spain on Thursday, with temperatures expected to exceed 40 degrees across a wide swath of the country. The Spanish authorities have issued heat warnings for most of the country and its islands.
🇩🇰
In many Danish cities, classic red fire hydrants are still visible. Although their numbers are dwindling, many still remain, and they pose a potential risk to drinking water, according to Susan Münster, director of Danske Vandværker. She says the issue arises from stagnant water in the pipes connected to these hydrants. If the water sits unused, bacteria can grow, potentially contaminating the water supply.
“This means that the water slowly goes bad, and there is a risk that you might also get sick if you drink it,”
Although municipalities are working to remove these hydrants, Danske Vandværker believes the process is too slow and emphasizes the need for quicker action to safeguard drinking water quality.
Morten Johannes Due, owner of Dons Vandanalytisk Laboratorium, has tested the water from these hydrants and found high levels of iron and bacteria. While not immediately harmful, the stagnant water's bacteria levels exceed safe drinking standards, posing a risk if mixed with the regular water supply, particularly for vulnerable consumers. Hans-Jørgen Albrechtsen from the Technical University of Denmark adds that while the bacteria are generally not disease-causing, they can still lead to unpleasant experiences for people who might drink it. To address this, Danske Vandværker has collaborated with the National Association of Municipalities to provide guidance on safely removing these outdated hydrants.
🇸🇪
The Swedish government is admitting for the first time that Sweden will not meet its ambitious climate targets and will be in violation of EU climate legislation mandating certain climate goals be reached by 2030.
Sweden’s national broadcaster SVT has its hands on a letter from the government admitting it will miss its goals in several key areas.
In the letter, the Swedish government advises the EU that it will fall well short of reaching its goals of increasing forests and wetlands in order to create a bigger carbon sink. Sweden will be between seven and 19 million tonnes of annual greenhouse gas reductions short of reaching the goal mandated by the EU.
The news isn’t any better concerning the transportation sector, where the government’s own policies will result in transport related CO2 emissions increasing significantly. Sweden will now exceed, by about four million tonnes per year, the EU mandate on CO2 emissions from the transportation sector.
Sweden also won’t hit its goal of increasing its share of renewable energy production, and it will also significantly miss its target for energy efficiency improvements.
Energy Minister Ebba Busch:
“It is true that it does not seem we will be able to meet the [climate] goals. For example, that we have chosen to reduce the mixing of biofuels in fuels. We have homework to do, but we must continue to fight for a realistic way to reach the EU's goals.”
🇪🇺
The European Union's ambitious goals to produce and import green hydrogen fuel by 2030 are unrealistic and unlikely to be met, according to a report by the European Court of Auditors released on Wednesday. The EU has set targets to produce up to 10 million tonnes of renewable hydrogen and import an additional 10 million tonnes, aiming to reduce its reliance on Russian energy imports. However, the ECA found these targets were based more on political ambition than on any robust analysis, and the EU is significantly off track to achieve its targets. The auditors noted that despite €18.8 billion in funding, projects that would add less than 5 GW of production capacity by 2030 are at an advanced stage, with around 50 GW of capacity still in the early assessment phase.
Green hydrogen, produced using renewable energy to split water without emitting CO2, is crucial for the EU's climate goals, particularly in decarbonizing industries like steel and fertilizer manufacturing. Despite its importance, the ECA criticized the EU's approach as overly optimistic and suggested that a more targeted strategy is needed for allocating funds and incentivizing hydrogen projects. Auditor Stef Blok emphasized the need for a "reality check" on the EU’s industrial policy for renewable hydrogen. In response, a spokesperson for the European Commission acknowledged the gradual development of the hydrogen market and stressed the need to accelerate the deployment and adoption of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen in Europe.
🇧🇷
An environmental catastrophe is playing out in one of the main rivers in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. An estimated 10 to 20 tonnes of fish have been killed and are now floating in the Piracicaba River. Prosecutors in São Paulo are blaming an “irregular discharge of wastewater” from a sugar and ethanol factory. Police are also investigating.
Director of the São Paulo Environmental Agency, Adriano Queiroz, spoke to the Associated Press.
“It will take years for the environment to recover because of the number of fish killed and the diversity of species affected the impact on biodiversity is significant.”
🦠Outbreaks🦠
🇪🇺🦠
This is an indication of growing concern in Europe over the global avian flu outbreak. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control is increasing its vigilance for any animal to human transmission of the bird flu. Among the measures it will take is to test hospital patients with certain symptoms for avian flu. Patients exhibiting both respiratory and neurological symptoms are on the alert list for testing.
“While we closely monitor the current situation with bird flu both in the EU and globally, there is reason for increased attention, but not for increased concern.”
The global avian flu outbreak has reached areas of the globe that have never seen the virus before. The bird flu has also made the jump to a number of new species, including dairy cattle in the United States. So far, over 150 herds across 12 states have been infected. The virus has spread to cats, mice, and other animals on the affected farms, along with at least four people. This marks the first time ever that another mammal has passed the avian flu to a human.
The ECDC emphasizes that the risk of infection to humans is low both within the EU and outside of it. That said, concern continues to grow that the bird flu virus could trigger another global pandemic should it evolve the ability to infect humans.
🇺🇦Ukraine/ Russia War🇷🇺
🇺🇦
In order to win a war, you need weapons, soldiers, and most importantly, money. For the first time since the Russian invasion, the Ukrainian government is going to raise taxes. According to draft legislation, Ukraine will increase its defenses quite substantially, and the increase will largely come from tax increases. The proposal must still be approved by the Ukrainian parliament.
🇩🇰
Another sign of troubling times. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, authorities in Denmark have been scrambling to assess the state of underground bomb shelters across the country in the event of an all out war. This week, the Danish Emergency Management Agency issued its report saying that there is enough underground shelter space to protect 61% of the population. However, the agency still has to do a physical assessment of each bunker to see if it is actually suitable for use.
The lack of bomb shelters seems particularly acute in Northern Jutland. Hjørring Kommune says it only has enough shelter space for less than half of the municipality’s residents.
Mayor Søren Smalbro spoke to DR to say the Kommune will need government help to remedy the situation.
“If we have to double the capacity, there are a lot of finances that I don't know how we will handle.”
The situation is even worse in Jammerbugt Kommune where it only has enough shelter space for about a quarter of the municipality’s population.
In the region’s largest city, Aalborg, there is only shelter space for about 90,000 of the city’s 223,000 residents.
🇳🇴🇺🇦
Norway is making some big donations to upscale Ukraine’s air defenses.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre:
“Norway is providing an additional one billion Norwegian kroner (about $127 million Cdn) in funding for air defence systems in Ukraine. The Ukrainians need more air defence to protect the population against Russian bombs and missiles.”
Some of the money will go to increasing Norway’s contribution to a German initiative helping to repair and maintain air defense systems and equipment already in use on the battlefield. The donation is being financed under the Norwegian Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine.
With Russia continuing to rain missiles and drones down on Ukraine, hitting hospitals, apartment buildings, and energy infrastructure, Norway is also donating another air defense missile system.
“The brutal attacks we have seen this past week show why it is so vital for the Ukrainians to have greater protection from Russian air attacks. In cooperation with Germany, Norway will donate a complete IRIS-T air defence battery to Ukraine this autumn.”
Not done there; Norway has decided it will donate six F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.
“Along with air defence, the fighter jets will be important for the Ukrainians to be able to defend themselves against Russian attacks from the air. Since autumn 2023, Norway has contributed to the training of Ukrainian fighter pilots in Denmark, and Norway will support the training in the future as well.”
Norway decommissioned its fleet of F-16 warplanes in 2021 as it transitioned its Air Force to the cutting edge F-35 fighter jets. 32 of its old F-16s were sold to Romania.
The international F-16 coalition helping to donate the warplanes and train Ukrainian pilots consists of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Great Britain, and Norway.
🇸🇪🇫🇮/ 🇷🇺
NATO scrambled fighter jets from Sweden and Finland last Monday to intercept two Russian warplanes flying in international airspace over the Baltic Sea. NATO’s Combined Air Operation Centre reports the Russian fighter jets had their transponders turned off, did not have a flight plan, and had no radio contact with civilian aircraft, all in violation of international aviation rules.
🇱🇹/ 🇷🇺
Another sign that Europe is preparing for war. The Lithuanian parliament voted this week to withdraw from the convention against cluster bombs. The convention mandates that participating countries are banned from making, stockpiling, or using cluster bombs. Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas blames Russia for the move, saying that it is ignoring the convention as it deploys cluster munitions against Ukraine.
What is left unsaid is that a cluster bomb convention is a lot easier to abide by when peace rules the land, which is not the case today.
While most European countries are part of the convention, notable abstainees include the United States and Ukraine.
🇸🇪🇺🇦
Sweden will send 13 diesel powered generators to Ukraine as the country’s energy infrastructure continues to be pounded by Russian missile attacks. Energy Minister Ebba Busch says the generators will help power hospitals as Ukraine deals with power disruptions.
🇩🇪🇺🇦
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is in the hot seat. During a recent NATO summit, Scholz made a passionate speech stating that Germany will stand by Ukraine as long as necessary. It appears by necessary he meant until his government tabled its budget, which it did this past week. The budget proposes to cut German military aid to Ukraine in half.
Think Tank Europe Director Lykke Friis says that the German government’s books are awash in red ink.
“They lack the money. So they have to cut some places, because this government does not want to change.”
Friis says the fiscal pain is far from over, as the financial squeeze will also likely mean Germany will also have to slash defense spending. She says by 2028 it will not be able to meet the NATO target of spending 2% of its GDP on defense.
🇩🇰🇪🇺/ 🇭🇺
Denmark has joined the European Commission and other EU nations in a diplomatic slap back at Hungary. European politicians are furious at Hungarian President Viktor Orbán, who, after Hungary took over its rotation of the EU presidency, launched what he called a mission of peace where, without any consultation or approval from the EU, he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Denmark has joined the EU and other European nations in refusing to send any high-level government ministers to EU meetings in Hungary.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen:
“The government wants to distance itself clearly from the Hungarian presidency's handling of Ukraine in the first weeks of the presidency. Therefore, for the time being, Denmark will cover informal ministerial meetings in Hungary at the official level. As the current EU Presidency, Hungary has a responsibility to promote and defend common EU positions. This applies not least to the EU's unreserved support for Ukraine.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs writes that Orbán's statements and the presidency's communication after the visits have "contributed to giving the wrong impression that Orbán acted on behalf of the EU.”
The European Commission announced earlier this week that the EU commissioners will not participate in the informal council of ministers meetings in Hungary until the turn of the year.
🇺🇸🇨🇦🇫🇮
The United States will no longer lag behind in the Arctic when it comes to icebreakers, thanks to a new collaboration with Canada and Finland. Announced at last week's NATO summit in Washington, this partnership, named the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort, aims to enhance the production of icebreakers. A White House press release highlighted that this cooperation will bolster the shipbuilding industries of all three countries and foster closer security and economic ties. In the future, allies and partners will also be able to purchase icebreakers built by the US, Canada, or Finland.
Currently, the US has only two aging icebreakers, while Canada and Finland have nine and twelve, respectively. In stark contrast, Russia boasts a fleet of 36 icebreakers. Daleep Singh, a security advisor for international economics at the White House, stressed the need for this initiative to prevent adversaries from gaining a technological advantage in icebreaker production. Maintaining a strong presence in the polar regions is crucial for countering Russian aggression and limiting China's influence, Singh explained. Senior researcher Flemming Splidsboel from the Danish Institute for International Studies added that the US is particularly concerned about China's intentions in the Arctic.
Beyond the US, Canada, and Finland, other nations are also focusing on enhancing their Arctic capabilities. Denmark, for instance, has been making strides to strengthen its maritime presence, with plans to replace old inspection ships and invest in surveillance technologies for Greenland and the Faroe Islands. The US has long urged Denmark to monitor activities in these areas more closely. As geopolitical tensions rise, especially with Russia asserting control over the Northern Sea Route, the need for robust icebreaking and military capabilities in the Arctic is becoming increasingly critical.
Odds & Ends
🇩🇰
The U.S. Department of Defense has turned to a company in Aalborg to help protect American satellites from sabotage. The company, Space Inventor, must develop a monitoring system to safeguard U.S. satellites that are already in orbit.
The company already does work for the Danish military, but Director Karl Kaas says having the Pentagon on its list of customers is a big deal.
“When the Pentagon chooses to use a small Danish company like us, it is a huge stamp of approval.”
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Check your passport before hitting the airport. That is the advice issued this week by Danish border control officers at Billund Airport after they had to scramble last weekend to issue 50 temporary passports for travellers heading out of the country.
South East Jutland Deputy Police Inspector Arno Rindahl Petersen advises people to do their homework and check their passport expiration date well in advance of heading to the airport. For example, he notes that Turkey requires arriving travellers to have a passport that is valid for a minimum of 150 days from the day they enter the country.
🇸🇪
Some Swedish municipalities are pushing the idea of instituting a tourist tax to try and reduce the number of visitors that flood in every summer.
However, the proposal doesn’t sit well with Sweden’s Finance Minister, Elisabeth Svantesson. She spoke to SVT:
“I think it's a pretty bad idea. Many municipalities are also happy about tourism. It creates jobs and favours entrepreneurship in smaller towns.”
Many places around the world are pushing back against mass tourism, with several instituting a tourism tax to try and trim the sheer number of never-ending visitors. The idea seems to be gaining traction in Sweden. A survey conducted by SVT found that 11 of Sweden’s 22 municipalities most popular with tourists all support the idea of a tourism tax.
🦖 💰
Forget crypto, gold, or valuable pieces of art; it is time to invest in dinosaur skeletons. A buyer dropped a boatload of cash to snap up a near-complete stegosaurus skeleton in an auction in New York. The well-preserved skeleton called ‘Apex’ was auctioned off by Sotheby’s. The auction ended in dramatic fashion with a bid of $25 million on the floor when, in the last minute, a buyer, identified as billionaire hedge fund manager Ken Griffin, entered an eye watering bid of $44.6 million. The 150 million year old skeleton was discovered just two years ago in Colorado.
In 2020, a Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton fetched a cool $27.5 million in auction. So if you have any large dinosaur skeletons gathering dust in the attic, now is the time.