Scientists seek Copernicus' uncle's remains to confirm finding

Polish archaeologists have launched a search for the grave of an uncle of Nicolaus Copernicus in hopes the relative’s DNA can confirm that remains they found last year are indeed those of the 16th-century astronomer, the head of the research team said today.

“We are almost sure we found Copernicus’s remains last year, but we still need to confirm it through comparison with the DNA of someone related on the female side,” said Jerzy Gassowski, who is head of the Archaeology and Anthropology Institute in Pultusk in central Poland.