Podcast Summary: Todo Concostrina – "Acontece que no es poco | Los dientes eran de iguanodonte"

Date: June 20, 2022
Host: Nieves Concostrina
Co-host: Carlas
Podcast: SER Podcast

Overview of the Episode

This episode of "Acontece que no es poco" dives into the fascinating and somewhat tragic story of Gideon Mantell, the British doctor who played a key role in the early days of dinosaur discovery. Nieves Concostrina, with her signature wit and storytelling flair, explores Mantell’s discovery of the iguanodon, the skepticism and hostility he faced from the scientific elite, and how the interpretation of fossils has evolved over time — even venturing into tales of testicle-shaped fossils mistaken for evidence of biblical giants.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dinosaur Fever and Cultural Context (00:31–01:27)

• The episode opens with a nod to the enduring public fascination with dinosaurs, referencing the success of "Jurassic World Dominion" and its beneficial impact on public interest in paleontology.
• Carlas introduces the episode’s focus: "hoy que sepan los oyentes que Nieves nos trae la historia de alguien que también contribuyó a eso, a investigar y difundir el universo dinosaurio, pero en un tiempo en el que ni había cine, ni redes sociales, ni nada de eso." (01:16)

2. Who Was Gideon Mantell? (01:27–03:45)

• Mantell is portrayed as the quintessential "unlucky genius": driven, curious, but consistently beset by personal misfortune and professional obstacles.
• "Hay personas que nacen con estrella y otros que nacen estrellados. Sí, pues este nació estrellado." (Nieves, 01:34)
• He discovered and named the iguanodon, an 8-meter herbivorous dinosaur, based on the similarity of its teeth to those of modern iguanas.
• The date of importance: June 20, 1824 — the first fossil cataloged in what would become dinosaur paleontology.

3. The First Dinosaur Fossil – Confusion and Discovery (03:45–05:13)

• Mantell found large unidentified bones and teeth in southern England and sought guidance from the prominent French naturalist Georges Cuvier.
• Cuvier confirmed these belonged to an unknown giant reptile, not any known mammal or fish.
• Mantell, upon comparing the teeth to modern reptiles, coined the term "iguanodon" — meaning "iguana tooth."

4. The Hard Life of a Pioneer, and the Envy of London (05:13–07:52)

• Mantell's professional life brought little solace: his family left him, a daughter died, and he faced constant debt.
• Moving to London for scientific recognition, he encountered contempt from the scientific establishment.
• Tragic accident: dragged by horses, he suffered devastating spinal injuries and chronic pain.
• Richard Owen, a powerful and ruthless rival, actively worked to diminish Mantell’s achievements, even erasing him from the official records after his death and, possibly, authoring a scathingly dismissive obituary:
  • "Decía que era un. Escribió de Mantel, que era un anatomista mediocre y carente de conocimiento." (Nieves, 07:43)
• After dying by opioid overdose, Mantell’s spinal column was displayed in a museum, only to eventually be discarded with scant recognition of its significance.

5. The Oddities of Fossil Classification and Biblical Worldviews (09:37–13:50)

• Early paleontologists struggled with fossil dating, as prevailing religious doctrine set the age of the Earth at just 6,000 years — Genesis as the reference point.
• Example: 17th-century researchers mistook large fossilized bones for the "testicles" of a biblical giant (citing Genesis 6:4), naming the fossil "Scrotum humanum":
  • "Ese par de huevos tenía que ser de un gigante. No había otra explicación." (Nieves, 11:01)
• The true origin: actually the lower end of a dinosaur femur, possibly of a Megalosaurus.
• This discovery sparked a nomenclature debate: In principle, the first scientific name ("Scrotum") should prevail by taxonomic rules, but the name "Megalosaurus" stuck, unlike Mantell’s "iguanodon," which survives:
  • "El Megalosaurus debería llamarse Scrotum y la familia de los megalosáuridos debería ser escrótidos, pero no les pareció bien." (Nieves, 13:22)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Mantell's fate: "Le pasó de todo, y casi todo malo, pero cuando le pasaba algo bueno, ya había alguien encargado de estropeárselo." (Nieves, 02:29)
• Defining iguanodon: "Iguano de iguana. Donte del griego diente. Pues diente de iguana. Tampoco hay que enredarse mucho con los nombres a veces." (Nieves, 05:15)
• On scientific snobbery: "Él era un médico, un cateto... Los señores científicos de Londres estaban por encima del bien y del mal." (Nieves, 06:07)
• On religious resistance: "El mundo tiene sólo 6.000 años. Y aquí nos entra una historia muy. A mí me parece muy divertida, y que demuestra lo desconcertados que andaban los primeros buscadores de fósiles." (Nieves, 10:51)
• Testicular fossils: "Pero qué testículos de gigantes ni que leches. Esta es la parte de debajo de un fémur, la parte que va encajada con la rodilla y que tiene forma de dos huevos colganderos ahí." (Nieves, 12:46)

Important Timestamps

• 00:31–01:27: Introduction to the dinosaur theme and why Mantell’s story matters today.
• 01:27–03:45: Mantell’s biography and the significance of his discovery.
• 03:45–05:13: The process of discovery and naming the iguanodon.
• 05:13–07:52: Mantell’s personal tragedies and professional sabotage by Richard Owen.
• 09:37–12:16: Fossil interpretation in the context of biblical chronology; the "testicle" fossil story.
• 12:20–13:50: Scientific naming controversies; "Scrotum humanum" vs. "Megalosaurus" vs. "Iguanodon."

Conclusion

With her characteristic humor and rigor, Nieves Concostrina illuminates a chapter of history where science collided with tradition, personal vendettas, and honest mistakes. The episode not only celebrates Gideon Mantell’s perseverance and scientific curiosity but also highlights the sometimes absurd journey from ancient mythology to modern paleontology. It’s a poignant reminder of the human side of discovery and the messy, fascinating progress of knowledge.