T. rex teeth indicate it ran as warm as an elephant

A new study led by geochemists at the University of California, Los Angeles, has provided fresh insights into the physiology of the Tyrannosaurus rex. By analyzing the chemical composition of fossilized teeth, researchers were able to estimate the dinosaur's internal body temperature. The findings indicate that the T. rex maintained a body temperature of approximately 36° Celsius, which is comparable to that of a modern elephant. This discovery challenges older depictions of the T. rex as a sluggish, cold-blooded reptile that relied on external heat sources. Instead, the data suggests that the dinosaur likely possessed endothermic capabilities, generating its own body heat to support an active, bird-like lifestyle. This dental thermometry technique offers a more direct method for understanding dinosaur metabolism, moving beyond the indirect evidence provided by bone microstructure and growth rates that has historically fueled debates among paleontologists.