Here's a good trivia question to spring on your party guests: what's the connection between Sherlock Holmes and the boldest hoax in the history of science? You'll find the answer, and a whole lot more, in this revealing episode from the acclaimed PBS-aired series NOVA. The story begins in 1912, when early human fossils were discovered near Sussex, England, leading to the announcement that "Piltdown Man" (named after the fossil site) was the proudly British proof of Darwin's evolutionary "missing link." This delusional pride was maintained until 1953, when new scientific research demonstrated that the bones of Piltdown Man were fakes, uncovering a hoax that had lasted four decades! In exploring this mystery, The Boldest Hoax examines the list of likely suspects (including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes), and draws upon expert testimony and historical documents to reveal the probable culprit. It's a fascinating study of nationalism, jealousy, arrogance, and the greedy pursuit of acclaim, all wrapped up in a real-life whodunit that was ultimately solved by digging into the archives of Britain's Natural History Museum. As always, NOVA supports this tale of scientific skullduggery with an abundance of compelling interviews, on-location footage, and solid graphics. DVD extras include printable materials for educators. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (J. Shannon)
The Boldest Hoax
(2005) 60 min. VHS or DVD: $19.95. WGBH Boston Video. PPR. Color cover. Closed captioned. ISBN: 1-59375-288-1 (vhs), 1-59375-289-X (dvd). Volume 20, Issue 4
The Boldest Hoax
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