Scientists say Copernicus' remains found
Researchers believe they have identified the remains of Nicolaus Copernicus by comparing DNA from a skeleton they have found with that of hair retrieved from one of the 16th-century astronomer's books.
Jerzy Gassowski, an academic at an Archeology school in Poland, also says facial reconstruction of the skull his team found buried in a cathedral in Poland closely resembles existing portraits of Copernicus, whose theories identified the Sun, not the Earth, as the center of the universe.
The reconstruction shows a broken nose and other features that resemble a self-portrait of Copernicus, and the skull bears a cut mark above the left eye that corresponds with a scar shown in the painting.
Moreover, the skull belonged to a man aged around 70 - Copernicus's age when he died in 1543.
Gassowski and Marie Allen, a Swedish DNA expert, announced their findings in Warsaw on Thursday.
Allen said DNA from the bones and teeth matches that of hair found in a book the Polish astronomer owned.
The book is in a library at Sweden's Uppsala University.
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