The Bone Wars: Cope vs Marsh and the Dinosaur Rush

27/10/2025 5 min
The Bone Wars: Cope vs Marsh and the Dinosaur Rush

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Episode Synopsis

A gripping look at how the late 19th‑century ‘Bone Wars’ transformed American paleontology. Rivalry between Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh sparked a feverish westward fossil hunt, espionage, and public humiliations, as the two men raced to name new dinosaurs—nearly 142 species—while sometimes destroying rivals’ work and bankrupting themselves. This episode unpacks the drama, methods, and lasting impact of one of science’s most infamous rivalries.Note: This podcast was AI-generated, and sometimes AI can make mistakes. Please double-check any critical information. Sponsored by Embersilk LLC