Scientists to return remains of Tycho Brahe to Prague tomb

Scientists returned the remains of the 16th Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe to his tomb in Prague on Friday. The Czech and Danish researchers, who opened the grave at the Church of Our Lady Before Týn at the start of the week, hope to settle a long-running dispute over what caused the death of the astronomer, who served at the royal court in Prague at the invitation of Holy Roman Emperor and Czech king Rudolph II. Samples of Brahe’s hair and beard taken during a previous exhumation revealed a high level of mercury in his remains, contradicting a legend that he died of an internal infection after his bladder burst. Prior to the reinterrment, the archbishop of Prague, Dominik Duka, will serve mass at the church, which is located a short distance from Old Town Square.