Good Sunday morning and welcome to our Under the Dome newsletter. I’m Dawn Vaughan, the Capitol bureau chief. This week, Democratic Governor Josh Stein announced what he describes as the “biggest dinosaur discovery of the decade.” This thrilling announcement coincides with significant changes in downtown Raleigh, particularly with the recent opening of the DinoLab and the Dueling Dinosaurs exhibit at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences.
Every year, thousands of visitors flock to the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, which is conveniently located in the heart of the state government complex in downtown Raleigh. At the core of the DinoLab is the remarkable fossil known as the Dueling Dinosaurs, originally believed to feature a triceratops and a young T. rex. This incredible exhibit weighs in at a staggering 20,000 pounds and prompted the museum to enhance its load-bearing capacity with steel reinforcements. The museum also relocated its lab to the first floor to accommodate this magnificent display, as reported by The News & Observer.
In an exciting twist, it was revealed this week that the dinosaurs engaged in the duel are not what scientists initially thought. Instead of a young T. rex, the predator is actually identified as a fully grown Nanotyrannus lancensis. Governor Stein made this announcement in collaboration with the museum and N.C. State University on Thursday. “This is the biggest dinosaur discovery of the decade, and I am proud that it is happening right here in North Carolina,” Stein stated, praising the state’s public universities and museums for their ongoing contributions to scientific research and advancement.
The DinoLab offers a unique opportunity for the public to witness paleontologists in action. With its entrance facing Jones Street, a location previously known for the N.C. Legislative Building, the museum allows visitors to interact with scientists as they conduct their research. This entrance is conveniently situated next to the museum’s impressive two-story globe, making it an inviting space for education and discovery.
For those interested in delving deeper into this groundbreaking tyrannosaur discovery, more information can be found in the esteemed scientific journal Nature. A study authored by Lindsay Zanno, head of paleontology at the museum and a professor at N.C. State, in addition to James Napoli, an anatomist at Stony Brook University, provides further insights into this exciting find. Additionally, my colleague at The News & Observer, Josh Shaffer, has shared more details regarding this remarkable discovery.
In addition to the dinosaur discovery, other notable stories include the Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools’ decision to buck state law, raising questions from House leaders about the reasoning behind their actions. Additionally, discussions surrounding tariffs were prevalent at North Carolina's world-renowned furniture market. Lastly, Kevin Howell, the new chancellor at N.C. State, made history during his installation.
