Facially Challenged

Tycho Brahe

Astronomer TYCHO BRAHE was 20 when his nose was partially chopped off in a duel with another Dane, Manderup Parsbjerg. (Reportedly the two had been arguing over mathematics.) According to the newspaper column The Straight Dope, "Tycho concealed the damage as best he could with an artificial bridge made of precious metals. He carried some nose goop with him always, either to polish the nose or to glue it more firmly in place."