Did "holding it" kill Tycho Brahe?
New evidence seems to rule out mercury poisoning
I had always heard that famed 16th century astronomer Tycho Brahe had been poisoned by mercury, perhaps by his main rival, Johannes Kepler. But I recently learned that not only is the mercury belief unfounded, but researchers think Brahe most likely died from having to pee. Sadly, one of the world's greatest minds may have died from an excess of politeness.
