Frozen for 68 Million Years, a Giant Egg Called ‘The Thing’ Found in Antarctica Is Turning Prehistoric Science Upside Down

A 68-million-year-old soft-shelled egg, dubbed 'The Thing,' discovered in Antarctica is challenging long-held beliefs about marine reptile reproduction. The egg, Antarcticoolithus bradyi, is the largest of its kind and suggests that some marine reptiles may have laid soft-shelled eggs in the ocean, similar to modern snakes and lizards. Found near the remains of a large mosasaur, the egg's discovery indicates that Antarctica may have served as a nursery for marine reptiles. This finding, along with others, suggests that soft-shelled eggs were more common among ancient reptiles than previously thought, potentially altering our understanding of reptile evolution.