Ötzi Iceman Yeast Bakes Sourdough

Scientists from IBM — IBM Research>>> have discovered and revived ancient yeast from the 5,300-year-old mummy, Ötzi>>> the Iceman. Found in his guts, skin, and meltwater, these cold-adapted yeasts, including the strain Glaciozyma>>>, have survived millennia in sub-zero conditions. Led by Mohamed Sarhan>>> and Frank Maixner>>>, the team successfully used the yeast to bake a 'very good sourdough' after three months of experimentation. The research, published in Microbiome>>>, suggests the yeast entered Ötzi>>>'s body soon after his death. Beyond baking, the scientists are exploring other applications, such as brewing beer and using the yeast to break down phenol, a chemical used in Ötzi>>>'s preservation, which could have implications for environmental cleanup. While Nikolay Oskolkov>>> from the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis>>> raised questions about the yeast's exact age, the study highlights Ötzi>>> as a dynamic biological system and offers insights into ancient microbiomes and microbial resilience. Ötzi>>>'s remains are housed at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology>>>.