{
  "id": 8665374,
  "title": "T. rex teeth indicate it ran as warm as an elephant",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/t-rex-teeth-indicate-it-ran-as-warm-as-an-elephant-8665374",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-20T09:00:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ars Technica Science",
    "slug": "ars-technica-science",
    "url": "https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/09/t-rex-teeth-indicate-it-ran-as-warm-as-an-elephant/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "For decades, the Tyrannosaurus rex was depicted as a sluggish, sun-warming reptile, before research revealed it as a fast-moving, bird-like creature akin to those seen in Jurassic Park. However, the question of whether T. rex possessed warm blood to fuel its activity persisted. UCLA geochemists Randon J. Flores and Robert A. Eagle may have provided a clearer answer through an innovative method: analyzing the T. rex's teeth. Their findings indicate that the dinosaur's body temperature hovered around 36° Celsius, akin to that of an elephant. For years, paleontologists have debated dinosaur physiology using indirect evidence like bone structure, growth rates, and fossil distribution. Some studies proposed a warm-blooded lifestyle for many dinosaurs, similar to birds and mammals, while others maintained that each lineage might have its own thermal strategy.",
  "summary": "Isotope ratios provide a hint that the giants were actively managing temperatures.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Ars Technica",
        "title": "T. rex teeth indicate it ran as warm as an elephant",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/t-rex-teeth-indicate-it-ran-as-warm-as-an-elephant",
        "published": "2026-09-20T09:00:11.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}