A new study reveals Tyrannosaurus rex's Asian origins, tracing its migration to North America over 70 million years ago via a land bridge. The research, published in Royal Society Open Science, also explores the evolution of megaraptors, linking their gigantism to a global cooling trend that altered predator-prey dynamics. While T. rex's direct ancestor remains undiscovered, the study challenges previous fossil dating and suggests that the extinction of carcharodontosaurids allowed both T. rex and megaraptors to reach colossal sizes by filling the apex predator niche. Further research in under-explored regions is needed to fully understand megaraptor evolution.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.