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Danish and Czech researchers have just completed the first part of a project that should throw more light on the death of the 16th century astronomer Tycho Brahe. Legend has it the Dane died of a burst bladder, though tests of his hair indicated possible mercury poisoning. The scientists this week took fresh samples from Brahe’s remains, before returning them to his tomb at the Týn Church in Prague. Just prior to the reinterment, Radio Prague spoke to the head of the team, Jens Vellev.

A highly-touted production of Karel Čapek’s play The Makropulos Case, directed by acclaimed American designer and director Robert Wilson, premiered at Prague’s Estates Theatre on Thursday. Mr Wilson is known for a highly unique approach to the stage and The Makropulos Case (a comedy about an enigmatic singer sought by all men) includes many signature elements.

The trial has begun in Prague of a man accused of deliberately forcing another driver off a busy Czech motorway. The car of the alleged victim, which had been travelling at more than 100 km an hour, rolled over several times before hitting a tree. Video footage of the incident shocked many people in the Czech Republic, and has been watched hundreds of thousands of times on the internet.

A recently-agreed coalition between the Civic and Social Democrats at Prague City Hall is only a few days old but almost from the get-go the deal has been seen critically by many voters. On Wednesday, some two thousand let their dissatisfaction be known. While not a huge number, protestors hope the demonstration will give the Prague Civic and Social Democrats at least some food for thought.

Czech scientists have launched an unusual project that might lead them to the descendants of a medieval “vampire”. On Tuesday, they collected DNA samples from around a dozen inhabitants of Hrádek nad Nisou, where a 14th century grave had been found with a body buried in a way typical for outcasts. But the main purpose of the project is to draw attention to science, and to a new town museum that should open next year.

The prime minister of Serbia is on an official visit to Prague with the aim of boosting diplomatic and business ties. The Czech Republic is one of the most enthusiastic backers of Serbia’s ambition to join the 27-strong European Union. But Serbia is still being held back by its recent troubled past.

The deal for control of Prague City Hall has been made and the result is a grand coalition between the rival Civic Democrat and Social Democrat parties. The controversial outcome means that the centre-right TOP 09 party will now go into opposition, in spite of having won a strong majority at the polls last month, and the Civic Democrats will retain their 20-year hold on power in the capital, despite losing public support in the wake of corruption scandals. Earlier today, Prague-based journalist Erik Best told Radio Prague that the deal carried serious

Twenty-one years after the Velvet Revolution there is now a generation of young Czechs for whom the communist era is little more than a chapter in their history books. A Czech NGO has now launched a school project which should portray the communist years through the fate of individuals and entire families.

The Czech Republic joined the world at the weekend in welcoming the release of Burmese dissident leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who has spent 15 of the past 21 years under house arrest. In that time, Prague has pressed hard for her release and done much at both state and non-governmental level to promote democracy in the country.

Danish and Czech archaeologists have been working to open the tomb of the 16th century Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, who spent the last years of his life in Prague and is buried in a church in the city’s Old Town. The experts plan to analyze his remains to see if they can throw more light on his mysterious death.