Following on the unexpected success of a scientific livestream that drew 61,000 viewers—tripling the audience of The Voice Argentina—a team of paleontologists is preparing for a new groundbreaking broadcast. On August 4th, the public was captivated by a live journey to the depths of the South Atlantic; this October, they will be transported 70 million years back in time.

The ‘Cretaceous Expedition I – 2025’ will investigate a key fossil site in General Roca, Río Negro. For the first time, from October 6-10, part of the excavation will be broadcast live via satellite internet, allowing the public to witness paleontology in real-time.

The site is a uniquely complete window into the Mesozoic, just before the mass extinction that reshaped our planet. It contains the remains of at least ten previously unknown species, including amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. The primary goal is to uncover more of the enigmatic Bonapartenykus ultimus—an Alvarezsaurid theropod dinosaur from the late Cretaceous. To date, only a single, poorly preserved partial skeleton associated with two eggs has been found. The team now hopes to recover more complete remains, piecing together a clearer picture of this elusive dinosaur.

This groundbreaking digital initiative is a collaboration between the Laboratory of Comparative Anatomy and Vertebrate Evolution (LACEV), the Félix de Azara Natural History Foundation, and National Geographic. It focuses on a 70-million-year-old site in Patagonia, a location recognized as a preeminent window into the continent’s pre-extinction ecosystems. Launched at a time when Argentina’s scientific community is confronting severe challenges under the administration of libertarian President Javier Milei, the project stands as a testament to resilience, aiming to democratize knowledge by showcasing science in real-time, against all odds.

References:

Agnolin, F. L., Powell, J. E., Novas, F. E., & Kundrát, M. (2012). New alvarezsaurid (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from uppermost Cretaceous of north-western Patagonia with associated eggs. Cretaceous Research, 35, 33–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2011.11.014

Links:

YouTube: @paleocueva_lacev

Instagram: @paleocueva.lacev

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