Ancient Yeast Discovered in Ötzi's Mummy Used to Bake Bread
WHO:
CBS News - Scientists from the Eurac Research institute in Bolzano, Italy, led by Mohamed Sarhan and co-author Frank Maixner.
Phys.org - Researchers at Eurac Research.
WHAT:
[9:41 AM EDT] - CBS News - The yeast discovered in Ötzi's body was able to consume phenol, indicating potential future applications in breaking down chemicals in contaminated environments.
[9:41 AM EDT] - CBS News - The scientists successfully made a sourdough loaf after three months of effort, describing it as "a very, very good sourdough."
[9:41 AM EDT] - CBS News - The study revealed that a particular kind of gut bacteria found in Ötzi is almost non-existent among modern humans but is present in some tribes in Africa and South America.
[9:41 AM EDT] - CBS News - The study indicated that Ötzi and Bronze Age salt miners consumed more fiber and whole grains than modern-day people.
CBS News - Yeast was discovered in the guts of Ötzi the Iceman, which scientists used to make sourdough bread.
CBS News - Four different types of cold-adapted yeasts were found in Ötzi's guts, skin, and melted water.
CBS News - The yeast was able to consume phenol, suggesting potential future applications in breaking down chemicals in contaminated environments.
CBS News - The study revealed that Ötzi's microbiome is not a "frozen" time capsule but a complex ecosystem.
WHERE:
CBS News - Ötzi was found in the northern Italian region of South Tyrol, near the border of Austria and Italy.
CBS News - The research was published in the Microbiome journal.
WHEN:
CBS News - Ötzi lived more than 5,300 years ago.
CBS News - Ötzi was discovered in 1991.
CBS News - The study was published on a Wednesday.
WHY:
[9:41 AM EDT] - CBS News - The discovery of the yeast and its capabilities suggests that the mummy is a "living biological interface" between ancient and modern microbial life.
CBS News - The discovery of yeast was unexpected, as scientists aimed to study ancient microbial life.
CBS News - The research aims to provide insights into ancient human life and the microbiome.
HOW:
[9:41 AM EDT] - CBS News - Genetic analysis revealed "DNA damage levels very comparable to the original microbes" in Ötzi's guts, suggesting the yeast entered his body soon after death.
CBS News - Scientists reproduced the gut yeast in a fridge and attempted to make sourdough bread, which took three months to succeed.
CBS News - Genetic analysis was conducted to assess DNA damage levels in the yeast found in Ötzi's body.
(UPDATED June 3, 2026 16:31 UTC)
Scientists have discovered a unique yeast in Ötzi's body that can consume phenol, hinting at future applications for cleaning up contaminated environments. After three months of effort, they successfully baked a sourdough loaf, which they described as "a very, very good sourdough," while also revealing that Ötzi's gut bacteria are nearly absent in modern humans but found in some tribes in Africa and South America. This research indicates that Ötzi and Bronze Age salt miners had diets richer in fiber and whole grains than people today, establishing him as a "living biological interface" between ancient and modern microbial life.
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(UPDATED June 3, 2026 14:29 UTC)
Scientists from the Eurac Research institute in Bolzano, Italy, have made an unexpected discovery of yeast in the guts of Ötzi the Iceman, which they successfully used to create sourdough bread after three months of experimentation. The study revealed four different types of cold-adapted yeasts present in Ötzi's microbiome, indicating that it is a complex ecosystem rather than a static "frozen" time capsule, and also suggested potential future applications for breaking down chemicals in contaminated environments. This research, published in the Microbiome journal, aims to provide valuable insights into ancient human life and the microbiome, showcasing the remarkable adaptability of microorganisms over thousands of years.