Stuff You Should Know
Selects: What Were the BONE WARS?
· Summarized
Key takeaways
- The Bone Wars were a fierce rivalry between paleontologists Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh, resulting in significant discoveries but also considerable mistakes due to hasty competition.
- Both Cope and Marsh were driven to uncover new dinosaur species partly due to their intense rivalry, leading to the identification of many new species during the late 19th century.
- Despite their accomplishments, both paleontologists experienced financial and career declines due to the destructive nature of their competition, leaving a legacy of controversy in the field of paleontology.
Summary
The Bone Wars: A Rivalry for the Ages
The episode dives into the dramatic rivalry between two paleontologists, Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh, known as the 'Bone Wars.' This conflict began in the late 1800s, characterized by fierce competition over dinosaur discoveries in America. Marsh and Cope's relationship started as friendship but devolved into sabotage and rivalry after Marsh backstabbed Cope by trying to claim his fossil finds. The harsh tactics included bribery, theft, and even attempts to discredit each other in the scientific community.
The Impact on Paleontology
The discussion emphasizes the significant output from this rivalry, with both Cope and Marsh discovering many new dinosaur species during their quest to outdo each other. While initially their work was riddled with mistakes due to haste, the fast-paced rivalry did lead to many discoveries. They were responsible for the identification of 126 new dinosaur species, portraying how their fierce competition accelerated the field of paleontology, despite the negative consequences of their rushed work.
The Downfall of Two Titans
As time went on, both Cope and Marsh experienced decline in their careers. Cope's financial troubles deepened due to his failed investments, and Marsh's positions became unstable after a series of public controversies. Eventually, they both became isolated figures within paleontology, with their legacies marred by their bitter feud. The episode culminates in discussing their deaths, highlighting the irony of their rivalry as neither gained greatness without marked controversy.
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Show notes
A pair of old timey fossil hunters had a rootin’ tootin’ rivalry that spilled from academic journals into the American Wild West - where fossils were dynamited and employees turned double agent. Learn about the two-fisted origins of American paleontology in this classic episode.
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