Tom Brady and Tiger Woods are throwing their star power behind a wild science project that feels straight out of Jurassic Park‘s playbook-only this time, it’s not dinos, it’s the moa, a giant, flightless bird extinct for over 600 years. Backed by Los Angeles Lakers owner Mark Walter and led by Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson and tech whiz Ben Lamm, their Texas-based startup, Colossal Biosciences, is playing mad scientist to resurrect this 12-foot, 500-pound beast that once ruled New Zealand’s forests.
Brady and Woods, the NFL and golf legends, are all in on Colossal’s mission to fight extinction and heal ecosystems, pouring cash into this $10.2 billion-valued startup. Walter, who also owns the LA Dodgers, dropped $200 million in January 2025, pushing Colossal’s total funding to $435 million.
These guys aren’t just funding a lab experiment-they’re channeling Dr. Hammond’s big dreams, aiming to rewrite nature’s story. The moa, a key player in its native ecosystem, is their next target after Colossal’s earlier win: creating three dire wolf puppies by tweaking gray wolf DNA. Brady and Woods called that project a game-changer for the environment, and now they’re betting on the moa to make waves.
The science is pure Jurassic Park magic. Led by geneticist Dr. George Church, the team’s pulling ancient moa DNA from bones and feathers, using CRISPR to rebuild the genome, and tapping modern birds like emus as surrogates. The plan? Reintroduce these feathered giants to New Zealand’s protected forests, restoring balance to an ecosystem missing its star player.
A project straight out of science fiction that could become reality
Jackson, with his deep Kiwi roots, brings cultural cred, while Lamm drives the biotech vision. It’s like they’re cooking up a sequel to nature itself, with Brady and Woods as the cool uncles cheering from the sidelines. This project isn’t just about bringing back a bird-it’s a bold swing at reshaping how we tackle extinction. Past efforts, like cloning attempts in the early 2000s, fizzled due to tech limits, but Colossal’s CRISPR-powered approach is light-years ahead, echoing Jurassic Park‘s audacious spirit.
Critics on X wonder if it’s ethical to play God, while fans rave about the eco-potential. If it works, Brady, Woods, and the crew could spark a revolution, not just reviving species but rethinking how we steward the planet. For now, they’re the real-life counterparts to John Hammond’s dreamers, chasing a future where extinct giants roam again. Will they pull it off, or is this a science experiment too wild to tame?
Read the full article here
