Italian scientists have created a new reconstruction of the face of Renaissance poet Dante. The result? Apparently he looks pretty much like any other regular guy. With a big nose. They based their reconstruction from detailed notes and a cast made when the skull was examined in the 1920s.

Personally, I think it would be fascinating to find out what any of these famous European figures looked like. Kings, queens, and other famous people from perhaps the early 9th century on have undisturbed graves scattered all through Europe. Maybe when MRI or some similar technology becomes powerful enough and mobile enough, we'll get a look inside some of these tombs.

Or not. I'm pretty iconoclastic about respecting the remains of someone who's been dead for centuries, but other people can (do) disagree. It's not like they're going anywhere... eventually when a tech is developed that'll do the job discreetly I can't imagine not taking a peek.