The Bone Wars: A Feud That Rocked U.S. Paleontology

The video explores the Bone Wars, a rivalry between paleontologists Marsh and Cope in the late 19th century. Their feud led to significant discoveries and mistakes in paleontology. The video highlights their backgrounds, the escalation of their rivalry, and the lessons learned about the importance of collaboration in science.

Which two paleontologists were involved in the Bone Wars?

• Marvel and DC

• Tesla and Edison

• William Buckland and Joseph Leidy

• Othniel Charles Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope

What mistake did Cope make when reconstructing the Elasmosaurus skeleton?

• He used the wrong type of bones.

• He placed the head on the wrong end of the spine.

• He forgot to include the tail.

• He mislabeled the dinosaur as a mammal.

What unethical practices did Marsh and Cope engage in during the Bone Wars?

• Falsifying scientific data

• Stealing fossils from museums

• Spying and bribing people to switch employers

• Selling fossils on the black market

What was the result of Marsh's initial description of Triceratops?

• He identified it as a new species of bird.

• He thought it was a type of bison.

• He concluded it was a type of fish.

• He believed it was a marine reptile.

What lesson can be learned from the Bone Wars?

• Secrecy is the best way to protect scientific findings.

• Competition always leads to better scientific discoveries.

• Collaboration and sharing information are crucial in science.

• Rivalries are necessary for scientific progress.