Researchers from Eurac Research’s Institute of Mummy Studies have cultured living microbes from the 5,300‑year‑old Ötzi the Iceman. Sampling stomach contents, skin swabs and meltwater inside the mummy, they identified four strains of cold‑adapted yeasts that appear to be actively reproducing despite the frigid display case in a controlled environment. The find shows Ötzi’s body hosts a tiny, persistent ecosystem.

Shotgun metagenomics confirmed ancient DNA signatures alongside intact yeast cells, indicating the organisms have survived since shortly after Ötzi’s death. Three of the species—Phenolifera, Glaciozyma, Goffeauzyma—can degrade phenol, a preservative applied to the mummy in 1991, giving them a selective edge and may influence future conservation protocols. Parallel analysis of nearby alpine soil revealed a related Pseudomonas strain still alive and evolving within the tomb.

The discovery reshapes expectations for long‑term microbial survival in curated contexts, suggesting that preservation chambers can unintentionally nurture extremophiles. For conservators, it raises the prospect of monitoring microbial growth to prevent subtle biodeterioration. Meanwhile, the living yeasts provide a rare window into ancient ecosystems, allowing scientists to study evolutionary change across millennia without disturbing the priceless specimen and informs museum best practices.