10 Fierce (But Productive) Rivalries Between Dueling Scientists We tend to think of scientists as quietly toiling away in their laboratories, not looking to bother anyone, but that’s not always the case. Great minds often come with powerful personalities. Many of our greatest thinkers would often find themselves on opposite sides of an issue and would not hesitate to sling some mud at each other. The rivalry between Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison is, undoubtedly, the most famous case of a scientific smackdown, but it’s far from the only example. 10Thomas Huxley vs. Richard Owen During his career, Richard Owen had his fair share of notable achievements, among them coining the word “dinosaur” and founding the Natural History Museum in London. However, his relationships with his peers had always been strenuous. Nowadays, Owen is regarded as jealous and petty toward his colleagues, even plagiarizing their works on occasion. His rivalry with Gideon Mantell was probably his most bitter feud, but his rivalry with Thomas Huxley was much more beneficial for the scientific community.