Everything Everywhere Daily: The Bone Wars

Episode Release Date: November 13, 2024
Host: Gary Arndt | Glassbox Media

Introduction

In the captivating episode titled "The Bone Wars," Gary Arndt delves into one of the most infamous rivalries in the history of science. Set against the backdrop of the 19th century—a period marked by unprecedented scientific and technological advancements—Arndt explores the intense competition between two pioneering paleontologists, Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh. This feud not only accelerated the field of paleontology but also left a legacy fraught with ethical dilemmas and scientific controversies.

The 19th Century: A Prelude to Rivalry

Timestamp: [02:14]

Gary Arndt sets the stage by highlighting the transformative nature of the 19th century. "The 19th century was arguably the century that saw the greatest advancement in science and technology in human history," he states, emphasizing the era's role in shaping modern civilization. Innovations such as the railroad and the telegraph revolutionized communication and transportation, while scientific discoveries laid the groundwork for future explorations.

This period also witnessed a burgeoning interest in understanding the Earth's distant past. Fossils, previously considered mere curiosities, began to be recognized as windows into ancient epochs. Geologists like James Hutton and Charles Lyell introduced groundbreaking theories of deep time and gradual geological change, providing a scientific framework for studying fossils systematically.

The Genesis of Paleontology’s Golden Age

Timestamp: [02:19]

Arndt recounts how the Industrial Revolution inadvertently propelled paleontology forward. Large-scale excavation projects for mines, canals, and railways unearthed an abundance of fossilized remains, sparking widespread interest in these relics. "The concept of deep time was revolutionary," Arndt notes, underscoring its significance in shifting scientific perspectives from viewing fossils as anomalies to recognizing them as remnants of prehistoric life.

The discovery of the first dinosaur fossils, such as Megalosaurus, Iguanodon, and Hyliosaurus, ignited public imagination. In 1842, British anatomist Sir Richard Owen coined the term Dinosauria, meaning "terrible lizards," to classify this newfound group of ancient reptiles. Arndt highlights the Victorian fascination with natural history, epitomized by the Crystal Palace Exhibition of 1854, which showcased dinosaur reconstructions and popularized paleontology.

Meet the Bone Wars: Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh

Timestamp: [02:18]

At the heart of the episode are the two central figures of the Bone Wars—Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh.

• Edward Drinker Cope: Born in Philadelphia, Cope was a self-taught naturalist with a fervent passion for classifying new species. Coming from a wealthy Quaker family, his intense personality and impulsiveness characterized his approach to science. Cope adhered to Lamarckism, the now-discredited theory that organisms can pass acquired traits to their offspring.

• Othniel Charles Marsh: In contrast, Marsh hailed from New York and came from a family of modest means, supported by his affluent uncle, George Peabody. A methodical and reserved scientist, Marsh pursued formal education and eventually secured the first chair of paleontology at Yale University. Unlike Cope, Marsh was a staunch Darwinist, believing in natural selection as the driving force of evolution.

Arndt emphasizes their shared love for paleontology despite their divergent backgrounds and personalities. Their initial camaraderie was evident when they named each other's discoveries—Cope named an amphibian Tionis Martius in honor of Marsh, while Marsh reciprocated by naming a marine fossil Mosasaurus copianus.

The Rift: Catalysts of the Feud

Timestamp: [02:21]

Upon returning to the United States, the once amicable relationship between Cope and Marsh soured, leading to a bitter rivalry known as the Bone Wars. Arndt outlines two pivotal events in 1868 that ignited this feud:

1. The Hadrosaurus Incident:

   • Discovery: William Parker Fulk, an attorney and amateur paleontologist, unearthed the first complete dinosaur fossil in the United States—the Hadrosaurus.
   • Conflict: Cope, managing the fossil pit, expected the fossils to be sent to his collection. However, Marsh deceitfully bribed the pit manager to redirect the fossils to himself instead.
   • Quote: "Marsh secretly contacted the pit manager and bribed him to send him the fossils found in the pit, not Cope. And this made Cope furious." [Timestamp: ~06:30]

2. The Elasmosaurus Debacle:

   • Discovery: An intact skeleton of Elasmosaurus was displayed at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, where Cope served as director.
   • Conflict: Cope erroneously positioned the skull at the tail end of the skeleton, assuming the tail was longer. Marsh publicly ridiculed this mistake, asserting that the skull belonged to the neck.
   • Quote: "Marsh publicly humiliated Cope by pointing out that he had put the skull at the end of the tail, not the neck." [Timestamp: ~08:15]

These incidents fueled mutual disdain, laying the foundation for a lifelong vendetta characterized by professional sabotage and personal animosity.

Escalation: Strategies of Sabotage and Competition

Timestamp: [02:18]

As the Bone Wars intensified, Arndt describes how both Cope and Marsh employed increasingly ruthless tactics to outdo each other:

• Racing to Excavations: Both paleontologists organized separate expeditions to fossil-rich regions in the American West, leveraging the expansion of railways for easier access. They scouted areas like Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska, hiring teams to maximize fossil recovery.

• Sabotage on Como Bluff: One of the most notorious battlegrounds was Como Bluff in Wyoming. Initially, Marsh secured exclusive information and financed discoveries, but internal conflicts led informants to defect to Cope. This defection sparked fierce competition, with both sides sabotaging each other's digs—burying or hiding fossils to prevent access.

  Quote: "Both scientists frequently published rushed descriptions of new species to claim priority." [Timestamp: ~10:45]

• Publication Battles: The rivalry extended to academic journals, where Cope and Marsh rushed to publish their findings, often resulting in misidentifications and scientific inaccuracies. For instance, Marsh mistakenly attached a Brachiosaurus head to a Brontosaurus skeleton. Their disputes were not confined to private interactions but spilled into scientific discourse, tarnishing their reputations.

  Quote: "Their feuds were often aired in scientific journals and popular press, diminishing their credibility amongst their peers." [Timestamp: ~12:20]

• Economic Warfare: Cope, initially the wealthier of the two, drained his resources in the quest to outpace Marsh. Conversely, Marsh leveraged his connections with Yale University and the Peabody Museum, securing substantial funding that allowed him to sustain prolonged excavations and expand his operations.

The Turning Tide and Public Outcry

Timestamp: [02:18]

By the 1880s, Marsh had gained the upper hand in the Bone Wars. His affiliation with Yale and the financial backing of the Peabody Museum enabled him to outspend Cope, who was nearly bankrupt after years of relentless competition. However, the feud showed no signs of abating. Both men continued to undermine each other through various means, even as other institutions, like Harvard University, entered the fray.

• Media Attention: The rivalry extended beyond scientific circles, attracting widespread media scrutiny. In 1890, The New York Herald published a story titled "Scientists Wage Bitter Warfare," highlighting the public spectacle of their feud. This exposure embarrassed the paleontological community and led many scientists to distance themselves from both Cope and Marsh.

  Quote: "What had been a fight inside the paleontology community now spilled out into the public, and it had become an embarrassment for the entire discipline." [Timestamp: ~13:30]

• Scientific Community’s Reaction: The relentless public disputes and unprofessional conduct led prestigious journals like The American Naturalist to ban both men, further isolating them from the broader scientific community.

The Final Chapters of the Feud

Timestamp: [02:18]

In an unusual culmination of their rivalry, Cope and Marsh's competition persisted even into their final years:

• Cope’s Posthumous Challenge: In 1897, Edward Drinker Cope left instructions for his skull to be donated to science, proposing that his brain size be measured and compared to Marsh's as a testament to his intellectual superiority. This macabre challenge underscored the depth of his disdain for Marsh.

  Quote: "Cope believed that brain size correlated with superior intelligence and wanted to prove, even after death, that he was Marsh's superior." [Timestamp: ~14:10]

• Marsh’s Reticence: Othniel Charles Marsh declined to participate in this posthumous comparison, choosing instead to remain silent on the matter until his death in 1899.

Legacy of the Bone Wars

Timestamp: [02:18]

The Bone Wars left an indelible mark on the field of paleontology. Arndt articulates the complex legacy of Cope and Marsh:

• Scientific Contributions: Together, they discovered and described approximately 136 new species of dinosaurs, laying the foundational knowledge for future paleontological research. Their relentless pursuit of fossils expanded the scientific community's understanding of prehistoric life.

  Quote: "Many of their discoveries were made because of the competition between them." [Timestamp: ~15:00]

• Negative Consequences: The intense rivalry led to significant scientific errors, including misidentifications and rushed publications. Additionally, valuable fossil sites were damaged or destroyed to prevent rivals from benefiting, representing a substantial loss to the scientific record.

• Ethical Lessons: The Bone Wars serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked competition and the importance of ethical standards in scientific research. Arndt emphasizes that their feud illustrates how personal vendettas can hinder scientific progress and compromise the integrity of a discipline.

  Quote: "Today, the Bone wars serve as a cautionary tale and an early chapter in the story of paleontology, illustrating the dangers of unchecked competition instead of cooperation and the importance of ethical standards in scientific research." [Timestamp: ~15:00]

Conclusion

Gary Arndt's "The Bone Wars" episode masterfully navigates the tumultuous rivalry between Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh, highlighting both their monumental contributions and the detrimental effects of their feud. By weaving historical context with personal narratives, Arndt provides listeners with a comprehensive understanding of how passion and competition can drive scientific discovery while also cautioning against the perils of personal animosity in the pursuit of knowledge.

Notable Quotes

• On the Transformative Era:
  "The 19th century was arguably the century that saw the greatest advancement in science and technology in human history." [02:14]

• On Public Fascination with Paleontology:
  "The Crystal Palace Exhibition of 1854 displayed reconstructions of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals which fascinated the public and made paleontology a subject of popular interest." [Timestamp: ~04:00]

• On the Specifics of the Rivalry:
  "Their feuds were often aired in scientific journals and popular press, diminishing their credibility amongst their peers." [12:20]

• On the Legacy of the Bone Wars:
  "Today, the Bone wars serve as a cautionary tale and an early chapter in the story of paleontology, illustrating the dangers of unchecked competition instead of cooperation and the importance of ethical standards in scientific research." [15:00]

Acknowledgments

Executive Producer: Charles Daniel
Associate Producers: Benji Long and Cameron Kiefer

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