Ep 3. Dinosaur Wars

In American Experience season 23 episode 3, titled "Dinosaur Wars," viewers are taken on a journey into the world of paleontology and the heated rivalry between two renowned scientists in the late 1800s, Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh.

The episode explores how the two men, once friends and colleagues, became bitter enemies in a feud that lasted for decades and resulted in the discovery of over 130 new species of dinosaurs. It delves into their methods of science, and how Cope and Marsh's intense competition led to some of the most significant scientific discoveries of the time.

The episode takes place during the Gilded Age, when wealthy industrialists like Andrew Carnegie and J.P. Morgan used their fortunes to fund scientific research. Cope and Marsh were both beneficiaries of this funding, and they engaged in a cut-throat competition to discover and name the most species of dinosaurs. In the process, they unearthed unprecedented scientific discoveries, including the first known Triceratops skeleton, the first Stegosaurus remains, and the discovery of some of the oldest known dinosaurs in North America.

The rivalry between Cope and Marsh was incredibly intense, with both men vying for control of the paleontology world. They each used underhanded tactics, such as spying on each other's expeditions and bribing other scientists to withhold information. The episode explores the personal vendettas that fueled this competition, such as a prank that Marsh played on Cope, and a disagreement over the proper way to reconstruct the massive heads of dinosaurs that led to an all-out war between their teams.

Despite their fierce competition, Cope and Marsh's scientific contributions still stand today. They paved the way for modern paleontologists and advanced our understanding of the evolution of dinosaurs. Their rivalry, while tumultuous, led to an incredible number of discoveries and greatly enhanced our knowledge of prehistoric life on Earth.

Overall, American Experience season 23 episode 3, "Dinosaur Wars," offers a fascinating glimpse into the cut-throat world of scientific discovery and the intense personal rivalries that drove some of the greatest scientific discoveries of the 19th century. It carefully examines the scientific methods of the time and how these two scientists used them in their attempts to one-up each other. The episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in the history of paleontology or the Gilded Age, and provides a riveting narrative of two scientists' search for discovery, fame, and glory.