Stuff You Missed in History Class SYMHC Classic: The Bone Wars
4 snips
Jun 15, 2024 Explore the intense rivalry between paleontologists Cope and Marsh during the Bone Wars in the 19th century, involving espionage, theft, and big discoveries. Learn about their unethical practices, fake fossils, and lasting impact on paleontology. Reflect on the legacy of their bitter feud in science.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
From Colleagues To Bitter Rivals
- Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh met while studying in Europe and remained friends at first.
- Their cordial start later soured into bitter rivalry as they returned to America.
The Elasmosaurus Embarrassment
- Cope misassembled an Elasmosaurus, placing its head on the tail, and published the error hastily.
- Marsh noticed and publicly exposed the mistake, worsening their split.
Race To Publish Distorted Science
- Naming rights and speed to publication drove sloppy science during the feud.
- Both men rushed to publish first, causing classification errors and long-lasting mistakes.