Battle of the dinosaur bones : Othniel Charles Marsh vs. Edward Drinker Cope / Rebecca L. Johnson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Johnson, Rebecca L., author.

Series:

Scientific rivalries and scandals.

Scientific rivalries and scandals

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Marsh, Othniel Charles, 1831-1899--Juvenile literature.

Marsh, Othniel Charles.

Cope, E. D. (Edward Drinker), 1840-1897--Juvenile literature.

Cope, E. D.

Paleontology--United States--History--19th century--Juvenile literature.

Paleontology.

Paleontologists--United States--Biography--Juvenile literature.

Paleontologists.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (64 pages) : illustrations.

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Minneapolis : Twenty-First Century Books, [2013]

Language Note:

English

Summary:

In the 1880s, science witnessed a major shift: Charles Darwin proposed his theory of evolution. People dug up the first dinosaur fossils. And the field of paleontology the study of ancient plants and animals emerged. Othniel Charles Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope became enthralled with these new ideas, discoveries, and developments. Both were determined to become world-famous paleontologists. When they met in 1863, they started off as friends. But within a few years, competition drove the men apart. Each fought bitterly to discover more fossils, name more species, and publish more papers than the other. In their haste to outdo each other, they both produced some shoddy work. The resulting confusion took many years to discover and correct, and their toxic relationship crippled the field of paleontology for decades afterward. However, the competition also produced a wealth of fossils. These laid a firm foundation for the field of paleontology and supported Darwin's theory of evolution. Marsh's and Cope's discoveries generated keen public interest in prehistoric life and rich data for future generations of paleontologists. This book explores the great rivalry between Marsh and Cope, showing how it brought out the best and the worst in them while bringing humankind a brand-new view of life on Earth."

Contents:

Beginnings

Marl, mistrust, and mistakes

Into the West

Battle at Bridger Basin

Distant enemies

Bones of monsters

Conflict at Como Bluff

Final confrontation.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references (pages 58 - 60) and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-283-69685-1

1-4677-0141-6