Ötzi the Iceman's remains yielded 'viable' yeasts in the lab

Researchers successfully isolated and cultured living yeasts from Ötzi's 5,300-year-old mummified remains, demonstrating that microorganisms can remain viable under extreme preservation conditions. This advances understanding of ancient microbial preservation and paleomicrobiology methods.

Does not prove the yeasts were actively living in Ötzi's microbiome at time of death; does not establish clinical or medical applications; does not indicate the broader microbiome composition was preserved intact.