
Dr. Temperance Brennan, a forensic anthropologist who works at the Jeffersonian Institution and also writes books, has an impressive ability to read clues from victims' bones. Consequently, law enforcement calls her to assist with investigations when remains are so badly decomposed, burned or destroyed that standard identification methods are useless. Brennan is teamed with Special Agent Seeley Booth, a former Army sniper, who mistrusts science and scientists when it comes to solving crimes but who has developed respect for Brennan, both professionally and personally.

While bungee-jumping, a couple discover a corpse at the bottom of a gorge; the lab goes into lockdown when an unknown substance begins oozing from the cadaver.

The body of a pregnant 16-year-old athlete found buried in a mound of salt in a city de-icing truck leads Booth and Brennan to the discovery that many of her teammates are pregnant or have babies after a pregnancy pact.

Booth and Brennan are convinced the death was no accident after the half-eaten body of Cam's ex is found in the tiger cage at the zoo, leading the team to hypnotize one suspect (Chad Lowe) to try to jog his memory.

Booth and Brennan investigate when pulverized human remains are found in a garbage bag; Angela's father (Billy F. Gibbons) seeks revenge on Hodgins.